Supreme Court Issues Bailable Warrant Against Advocate Who Made 'Scandalous' Police Complaint Against SCBA Election Committee, Judges

The Supreme Court today issued bailable warrants against an advocate who made a police complaint against members of the Election Committee constituted to hold Supreme Court Bar Association elections.The Court noted that the advocate did not refrain from levelling allegations even against judges of the Court and failed to enter physical appearance despite previous directions.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan passed the order in the SCBA v. BD Kaushik case, observing that the advocate's conduct prima facie amounted to criminal contempt of Court. The order was dictated thus:"Having been apprised of a scandalous and frivolous complaint made by one Dr Mukut Nath Verma, Advocate to Tilak Nagar police station against members of the Election Committee constituted by this Court for conducting SCBA elections, the said advocate was directed to remain present in Court on 29 May at 10.30 AM, failing which it was made clear that 'we will take coercive steps to secure his presence'. Instead of appearing in person, Dr Mukut Nath Verma appeared online on 29 May. His appearance online was not accepted and he was directed to remain present in Court on the next date.He is neither present nor anyone else has entered appearance on his behalf. There's no information or record that he has withdrawn the scandalous application/complaint he made to defame the members of the Election Committee. In fact, contents of the complaint would reveal that the said advocate has not spared judges of this Court also. Owing to his conduct, which prima facie constitutes criminal contempt of Court, and the fact that he has not appeared despite categorical directions issued, let bailable warrants to the sum of Rs.10,000 be issued to secure the presence of Dr. Mukut Nath Verma, Advocate."The concerned DCP and SHO of Tilak Nagar Police Station were directed to ensure execution of the bailable warrants and secure the presence of Dr. Mukut Nath Verma on the next date, failing which the Court said it would be constrained to issue non-bailable warrants.For context, the subject complaint was filed by Dr Mukut Nath Verma naming Election Committee members & Senior Advocates Vijay Hansaria, Jitendra Mohan Sharma and Mahalakshmi Pavani. It claimed that the EC members got candidates unfairly elected to the post of SCBA President and others for oblique motives, and as such, an investigation was required.Insofar as the issue of reforms in the SCBA, the bench said that the suggestions of SCBA, put forth by Senior Advocate and SCBA President Vikas Singh, and recommendations of the 2025 Election Committee, presented by Senior Advocate and Committee Chairman Vijay Hansaria, be uploaded on the SCBA website. Following the uploading of the suggestions, members of the Supreme Court Bar may give their inputs/opinions to SCBA within 2 weeks, it added. Case Title: Supreme Court Bar Association v. BD Kaushik, Diary No. 13992/2023 Click Here To Read/Download Order

Supreme Court Issues Bailable Warrant Against Advocate Who Made 'Scandalous' Police Complaint Against SCBA Election Committee, Judges

Debby Jain

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