Following 'Vivah Kendra' Episode, Allahabad High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL Over 'Unsavoury' Conduct Of Advocates

The Allahabad High Court last week registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the 'unsavoury' activities of certain advocates within the Lucknow District Court premises. The suo moto PIL was initiated following HC's earlier directions (of July 8) for the eviction of two lawyers who had allegedly converted their chamber into a makeshift 'Vivah Kendra' (Marriage Centre). It may be noted that a Division Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh, while hearing a matter on July 8, 2025, took judicial notice of serious ethical violations committed by lawyers operating from a Chamber in the District and Sessions Court, Lucknow. The bench had, while ordering the eviction of the Advocates running the 'Vivah Kendra', referred the matter to a division bench for initiation of a suo motu PIL regarding the 'unsavoury activities' being undertaken by the Advocates in the District and Sessions Judgeship, Lucknow.Read more about Court's order here : Lawyer Chamber Turned 'Vivah Kendra': Allahabad HC Directs Eviction Of 2 Advocates From Lucknow District Court Campus In the Court's latest order passed on July 12, 2025 by a different bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Shree Prakash Singh, notices have also been issued to the Chairman of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh and the President and General Secretary of the Central Bar Association through the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, and the Senior Registrar of the High Court. "All the respondents may file their response as to the manner in which the Members of the Bar are required to observe ethical standards to serve the cause of justice", the Court observed. It also sought details regarding any disciplinary or legal action taken against the advocates involved in the 'unethical' conduct. Additionally, the Bench directed the learned counsel for the High Court to verify whether Chamber No. 31 has been vacated and whether the 'objectionable writings on the wall' have been removed. The matter will now be heard next on July 22, when it will consider appointing an Amicus Curiae in the case. Court's order on Vivah Kendra running inside a Lawyer's Chamber On July 8, a startling revelation occurred in the Court during the hearing of a habeas corpus writ petition filed by a couple claiming protection from harassment following an interfaith marriage. Essentially, the petitioners had submitted a marriage certificate issued by Pragatisheel Hindu Samaj Nyas, which claimed the marriage was solemnised at Brahmastra Legal Associates, Chamber No. 31 in the Lucknow court premises. Upon scrutiny, the Court discovered that the Lawyer's chamber had been transformed into a ceremonial venue with floral decorations, buntings and iron gates. The names and mobile numbers of two advocates [Raghvendra Mishra Hindu and Vipin Chaurasia] were painted on the door, and one of them admitted to conducting and recording marriages at the site. In fact, the counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner no. 1 (Shivani Yadav) also claimed that she had not married petitioner no. 2 and that she continued to reside with her parents. It was further claimed that Shivani had not signed any vakalatnama in favour of the counsel who had filed the petition, and no joint affidavit had been filed by the petitioners. Expressing serious concern over the misuse of advocate chambers for unauthorized purposes, the bench had directed the forcible eviction of the said advocates and the removal of all signage. The Court had also ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings under Sections 340 and 195 of the CrPC against one of the petitioners for submitting an apparently false affidavit.

Following 'Vivah Kendra' Episode, Allahabad High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL Over 'Unsavoury' Conduct Of Advocates

Sparsh Upadhyay

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