A Delhi court has granted bail to two Lucknow University law students arrested after an incident inside the Supreme Court in which court proceedings were allegedly disrupted. While strongly criticising the conduct attributed to the accused, the court held that continued pre-trial detention was not justified after the investigation had substantially concluded.
Background of the Case
The case relates to an incident that took place on July 10 inside Court No. 13 of the Supreme Court. According to the prosecution, Prabal Pratap Singh, a third-year law student appearing as a petitioner-in-person, allegedly threw case papers in the courtroom, used abusive language directed at the office of the Chief Justice of India, and was accused of using criminal force against a security official when restrained.
The second accused, Chanderbhan, a second-year law student at Lucknow University, was alleged to have supported the actions of his co-accused. Both were arrested on July 11 following the registration of an FIR.
Court's Observations
In an order dated July 27, Judicial Magistrate First Class Ravi of the Patiala House Courts observed that dissatisfaction with the outcome of a case does not permit a litigant to disrupt court proceedings or use abusive language against the judiciary.
The court remarked,
“No litigant, however aggrieved or unrepresented, has the licence to throw papers in open court or direct abusive language at the office of the Chief Justice of India.”
At the same time, the magistrate noted that the Supreme Court itself had responded to the incident with institutional restraint.
The order stated,
“An institution of the stature and permanence of the Supreme Court of India is not diminished by the conduct of a single agitated litigant.”
The court further observed that the investigation had been substantially completed, relevant evidence had been collected, and no further custodial interrogation was required. It also noted that the allegations, though serious, related to offences that were not considered heinous for the purpose of deciding bail.
Court's Decision
Holding that further detention was not warranted in law, the court granted bail to Prabal Pratap Singh and Chanderbhan, while making it clear that its observations were confined to the issue of bail and would not influence the merits of the criminal trial.
