The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow Bench on Tuesday (21 July) night took urgent cognizance of allegations that advocates and a litigant were assaulted inside the Lucknow District Court premises and prevented from appearing in a civil case. Calling the allegations "very serious" at the preliminary stage, the Court directed the District Judge and the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, to submit reports along with CCTV footage the very next morning.
Background of the Case
The matter came before a special Bench constituted around 7 p.m. following an application moved by advocates Abhipsa Mohanty, Komal Agarwal and Ashutosh Srivastava in the pending batch of petitions concerning the functioning of district courts. The advocates alleged that they were stopped from filing a vakalatnama in Suit No. 2933 of 2025 and were physically assaulted along with their client, Mohd. Shakir, inside the court complex. They further claimed that they were threatened for accepting the brief against another advocate connected with the dispute.
According to the application, the dispute arose after the plaintiffs engaged Delhi-based advocates because local lawyers were allegedly unwilling to appear in the matter. The applicants also referred to an earlier incident in April 2026 in which another plaintiff was allegedly assaulted and claimed that an attempt to lodge an FIR did not succeed.
Court's Observations
During the hearing, the Bench viewed a video produced by the applicants, who identified the person being assaulted as plaintiff Mohd. Shakir.
Recording its prima facie view, the Bench observed,
"If the incident as is alleged has happened, which prima facie appears to have happened based on the video played before us and the statements of the advocates before us, then it is a very serious matter."
The Court also noted that this was not the first complaint regarding such incidents in the Lucknow District Court. It recalled that earlier directions had led to the creation of a special police cell to examine allegations of interference with judicial proceedings and other illegal activities within court premises.
Directions Issued by the Court
The Bench directed the District Judge, Lucknow, to submit a report along with CCTV footage after identifying those visible in the recordings. The Commissioner of Police was also asked to file a report, gather information regarding the alleged incident and the antecedents of the persons named, and ensure the presence of the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police and Station House Officer before the Court.
Recognising the seriousness of the allegations, the Court further ordered that the advocate-applicants be provided adequate police security during their stay in Lucknow and directed that Mohd. Shakir be produced before the Bench on the next date of hearing.
Decision
The High Court directed the District Judge, Lucknow, and the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, to place their reports and CCTV footage before the Bench on 22 July 2026 at 10:15 a.m.
It also ordered security for the advocates involved and directed the production of the injured plaintiff before the Court on the next day.
Case Details
Case Title: Anil Kumar Khanna v. State of Uttar Pradesh (Leading matter with connected petitions)
Case Number: Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 8810 of 2023 (with connected matters)
Judges: Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla
Decision Date: 21 July 2026
