Amid ongoing tensions between the Bar and the Bench at the Allahabad High Court, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has written to the newly elected office-bearers of the Oudh Bar Association, seeking their intervention and appropriate action to restrain Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal from participating in judicial proceedings.

In a letter dated October 31, 2026, addressed to the newly elected President and General Secretary of the Oudh Bar Association, the HCBA expressed concern over two orders passed by Justice Deshwal on October 28 and 29, 2026, alleging that they were against the interests and reputation of the advocates' community.

The HCBA stated that advocates had protested against the two orders and, as a result, Justice Deshwal could not sit in his courtroom on either day.

The letter specifically calls for "समुचित कार्यवाही" (appropriate action) to restrain the judge from judicial proceedings. The HCBA has urged the newly elected Oudh Bar leadership to take collective action in this regard.

The two orders referred to in the letter are:

• Bail Application No. 32917 of 2026, Devendra Kumar v. State of U.P., dated October 28, 2026.

• Bail Application No. 36572 of 2026, Ankit Singh alias Anant Singh v. State of U.P., dated October 29, 2026.

The Association alleged that the October 29 order was an attempt to create differences among members of the Bar and described such an alleged attempt as condemnable. It further stated that the orders had adversely affected the interests and reputation of the advocates' community.

The Association's newly elected President, Senior Advocate Dr. C.P. Upadhyay, and General Secretary Santosh Kumar Mishra signed the letter.

What orders did Justice Deshwal pass?

The two orders were passed against the backdrop of protests and disruptions of court proceedings following an October 27 incident in the courtroom of Justice Ajay Bhanot.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association had earlier accused Justice Bhanot of humiliating an advocate during court proceedings and mocking a senior advocate. Following the incident, advocates protested at the High Court.

In the Devendra Kumar case, Justice Deshwal passed an order on October 28 directing the identification of advocates who had allegedly raised slogans and disrupted court proceedings in the corridors during a protest over the October 27 courtroom incident involving Justice Ajay Bhanot.

The Court recorded that certain advocates had started raising their voices in the corridor outside the courtroom, thereby interrupting the proceedings.

Describing their conduct as "absolutely contemptuous", Justice Deshwal observed that the matter could be referred to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh for initiating disciplinary proceedings against the advocates. He also indicated that contempt proceedings could be initiated against them.

The order also referred to the disruption caused by the advocates' protest and the impact it had on the functioning of the Court.

Furthermore, in Ankit Singh alias Anant Singh, Justice Deshwal passed an order on October 29 addressing the obstruction of advocates seeking to enter his courtroom to argue their cases.

The Judge noted that certain persons claiming to be advocates of the High Court had stopped other advocates from entering his courtroom without any reason. He requested the newly elected body of the Bar Association to look into the issue and ensure that the dignity of the Court was maintained.

Justice Deshwal observed:

"This Court is conscious that most of the advocates practising at the Allahabad High Court are not only very sincere but also well-behaved. It is surprising that, without any call from the Bar Association, certain persons claiming to be advocates of the High Court have stopped advocates from entering this Court for no reason. Therefore, the newly elected body of the Bar Association is requested to look into this issue so that the dignity of the courts, which includes advocates, whether private or government, is maintained."

The HCBA has taken exception to these two orders, particularly the observations and directions on the conduct of advocates and the functioning of the Bar and has sought the Oudh Bar Association's support.

In related news, Justice Deshwal, in another order passed on October 30, expressed concern over incidents of disruption of court proceedings and differences between the Bar and the Bench.

Justice Deshwal advised young advocates to focus on their studies and preparation of cases rather than increasing their social media likes.

He said added that young advocates are the future of the High Court as they go on to become senior advocates as well as Judges of the High Court.

Justice Deswhal made these observations while hearing a bail application wherein it took note of allegations that certain advocates had forcibly prevented lawyers from entering the courtroom to argue their cases and had even taken Government Advocates out of the courtroom.

Justice Deshwal recorded in his order that the applicant's counsel could not appear to press the bail application because certain advocates had forcibly stopped advocates who wanted to argue their cases. He also recorded that Government Advocates were forcibly taken out of the courtroom.

During the hearing, the Judge said he heard the cries of a woman advocate who wanted to enter the courtroom to attend her case but was allegedly misbehaved with and forcibly stopped from entering.

Describing such conduct as detrimental to the reputation and dignity of the Bar as well as the Court, the Bench observed:

"The proceedings of the Court cannot be allowed to be stalled merely because a section of advocates does not want the Court to function, although the majority of advocates want to argue their cases".

The Court also took "judicial notice" of certain social media posts uploaded by young advocates concerning the functioning of the High Court and advocates. It cautioned that incomplete and twisted information, shared without thoughtful consideration, could lead to an “unnecessary accentuation of differences between the Bar and the Bench”.

In this regard, the Court advised young advocates to focus on their studies and case preparation to build their careers instead of chasing social media likes.

The Court further remarked that advocates command respect in society because the public has trust in the High Court. It emphasised that maintaining the dignity of the High Court was not merely the duty of judges but also of advocates.

"If public trust in the High Court gets eroded, then mafias and certain unruly public officials will start harassing advocates, as recently happened in certain districts, which was also highlighted in several newspapers", the Court observed.

It also clarified that the dignity of advocates includes both private advocates and Government Advocates, as the latter are also members of the Bar.

The Court expected the newly elected body of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association to consider the issue and take appropriate steps to maintain the dignity of the High Court.