Allahabad HC Directs Courts To Allow Appearance Of Advocates Only Upon Furnishing Of Their Enrolment Number [Read Order]

The division bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Suneet Kumar has held that appearance of Advocates will not be allowed through Vakalatnama, etc. from March 20, if they do not furnish their enrollment number.

This direction however, has been issued with respect to the districts where the process of preparation of Advocates' Roll has been completed.

"We, therefore, direct all the Courts not to entertain any appearance of Advocates through concerned etc. without number of "Advocate Roll", wherever Advocates Roll have been completed, on and after 20.03.2020 and a notice to this effect shall be communicated to Bar Associations of concerned District Judgeships forthwith," the bench ordered.

The court has asked the districts, where Advocates Rolls have not been completed, to complete the process within stipulated time and has ordered that the direction for furnishing of enrollment number will be made applicable to them from April 1.

"Further where Advocates Rolls have not been completed, the same shall be completed as per the time given by this Court and in those District Judgeships also, on and after 01.04.2020, appearance of Advocates through Vakalatnama etc. shall not be accepted or entertained by any Court, until Advocate Rolls' number is mentioned thereon."

The bench has clarified that in case of appearance of an Advocate from outside the District, he shall be accompanied by a local Advocate, whose enrollment number will be mentioned in the appearance slip.

Registration of Advocates' Clerks

The Court has also issued directions for registration of Clerks with the concerned Advocates.

The bench has granted a month's time to the Clerks to get themselves registered with the concerned Advocates and thereafter for inclusion of their names in the Roll of Clerks.

From April 15, the court has ordered, unregistered Clerks and those who are not on the Roll of Clerks will not be allowed to enter in the Court campus.

Observance of Uniform Rule by Court Staff

The court has also taken a critical view of the non-observance of the uniform rule by the court staff and it has asked the Registrar General to submit an explanation in this regard.

"We have also noticed that in this Court itself, many Registry Staff/personnel are not wearing uniform despite repeated orders passed in this regard. Registrar General shall submit an explanation to this effect and ensure that in no case, on and after 16.03.2020, any member of Staff of Registry is allowed to remain present in Court campus unless he/she wears uniform and also displays identity card," the court has ordered.

The directions have been passed in suo moto PIL titled In Re Suo Moto Relating To Security And Protection In All Court Campuses In The State Of U.P., initiated after the incident of open firing in Bijnor district court.

The high court has been keeping tabs on the measures taken to ensure safety in and around the court campuses. In this backdrop, it issued various directions from upliftment of court infrastructure, to proper identification of visitors.

Vide orders dated December 20, 2019 and January 2, 2020, the high court had passed a slew of directions to ensure adequate security in court premises.

Subsequently, vide order dated January 17, the high court took on record a Compliance affidavit, filed by Additional Chief Secretary to the State, viz. installation of CCTV cameras, appointment of designated Quick Response Teams, restricted entry of vehicles in court premises, construction of boundary walls, etc.

In its order dated January 28, the high court had prohibited raising of banners and posters in the court premises, during elections to the High Court Bar Association.

During the hearing held on February 27, the high court was informed of an incident at the Bijnor District Court whereby some Advocates had demolished the wall/Gate of the court premises on February 13.

A report on the matter was prepared by the district judge and it was submitted before the high court on Tuesday. The report discloses names of three Advocates who were identified by the distinct Judge after viewing the CCTV footage.

The High Court has issued notices to the said three advocates and has directed them to explain why they should not be punished for contempt of Court. The court has also asked them to appear in person on March 20.

Further, the President and Secretary of Bar Association, Bijnor have been summoned to assist the Court in the identification of other delinquent Advocates who could not be identified by the District Judge in the CCTV Footage.

The matter will now be taken up for hearing on March 20.

Case Details:

Case Title: In Re Suo Moto Relating To Security And Protection In All Court Campuses In The State Of UP

Case No.: PIL No. 2436/2019

Quorum: Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Suneet Kumar

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