LAWYER ALLEGES ASSAULT BY GOONS INSIDE TIS HAZARI COURT; CJI ASSURES STRICT ACTION:

A lawyer on Tuesday brought to the attention of the Chief Justice of India an alleged incident of violence that took place inside a courtroom at the Tis Hazari Courts complex in Delhi. According to the lawyer, the incident occurred last Saturday while he was appearing before the court of Additional District Judge Harjeet Singh Pal in a matter where he was representing one of the accused persons.

The lawyer stated that during the court proceedings, the complainant’s advocate allegedly entered the courtroom along with several unidentified individuals. He claimed that these persons forcibly entered the courtroom and assaulted both him and the accused in the presence of the presiding judge. As per his account, the attackers locked the courtroom door from the inside and proceeded to unleash violence, creating a serious breach of courtroom security and decorum.

Raising the issue through an oral mention before the Chief Justice of India, the lawyer said that the incident had left him shaken and raised grave concerns about the safety of advocates and litigants inside court premises. He further alleged that the local police were reluctant or fearful of taking action in the matter, prompting him to seek intervention at the highest judicial level. He clarified that he was making the mention in his capacity as a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, however, questioned the appropriateness of raising the matter orally before the Supreme Court instead of approaching the institutional authorities of the Delhi judiciary. The Chief Justice pointed out that the proper course would have been to formally bring the incident to the notice of the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who exercises administrative control over the subordinate judiciary in the capital. He expressed concern over the choice of forum and indicated that such issues should first be addressed at the appropriate administrative level rather than through oral mentions before the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice advised the lawyer to submit a detailed written complaint to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, outlining the incident and the allegations of assault inside the courtroom. He also directed that a copy of the complaint be forwarded to his office. Emphasizing the distinction between judicial and administrative functions, the Chief Justice made it clear that the matter would be dealt with on the administrative side and that no judicial proceedings were warranted at that stage.

Assuring the lawyer that the issue would not be ignored, the Chief Justice remarked that misconduct of this nature within court premises was wholly unacceptable. He indicated that once a formal complaint was received, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court would be expected to take cognizance of the allegations and initiate appropriate action. The Chief Justice underscored that violence, intimidation, or lawlessness inside courts strikes at the very foundation of the justice delivery system and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

The incident, if substantiated, raises serious questions about courtroom security and the protection of legal professionals while discharging their duties. Courts are meant to be spaces governed by law, order, and respect for institutional authority, and any breakdown of these principles poses a direct threat to the rule of law. The Chief Justice’s response reflected the judiciary’s firm stance against any form of “gunda raj” or mob dominance within court premises, while also reinforcing the importance of following established institutional channels for redressal.

The matter is now expected to be taken up administratively by the Delhi High Court following the submission of a formal complaint, with the Supreme Court monitoring the issue through appropriate administrative mechanisms.