The Supreme Court on Monday (11 May) said there was no need for further action over the recent controversy involving an Andhra Pradesh High Court judge and a young lawyer, noting that the issue had already been resolved at the High Court level with the intervention of the Chief Justice and Bar Association.
At the same time, the Court emphasized that judges across all levels of the judiciary must show patience and encouragement toward young advocates entering the profession.
Background Of The Case
The matter arose after a courtroom exchange involving Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge Justice T. Rajasekhar Rao went viral on social media earlier this month. In the video clip, the judge was seen rebuking a young advocate during a hearing and threatening police custody after believing that the lawyer had angrily thrown case files near the podium.
According to the lawyer, however, the files had accidentally slipped from his hands.
The incident led to strong reactions from legal bodies, including the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), both of which approached the Supreme Court seeking intervention.
The petitions were heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
While declining to continue proceedings further, the Supreme Court made significant observations on the relationship between the Bench and the Bar.
The Bench observed,
“Members of the judiciary at all levels must exhibit patience, compassion and spirit of encouragement towards all, especially young members of the Bar.”
The Court said responsibility for maintaining professional discipline does not rest only on senior lawyers but also on judges, who must help nurture integrity and confidence among young advocates.
The judges further noted that the controversial oral remarks never became part of an executable judicial order. The Bench also accepted the report placed before it stating that the misunderstanding had already been amicably resolved before the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court suggested that High Courts across the country should establish Grievance Redressal Committees involving representatives from Bar Councils and Bar Associations.
According to the Bench, such committees would help resolve disputes between lawyers and judges “amicably and effectively” at an early stage.
The Court also appreciated the efforts of the SCBA in encouraging younger lawyers and said similar initiatives should be adopted by State Bar Councils and other legal bodies.
The Court also addressed the circulation of courtroom videos on social media and cautioned against sharing short clips without proper context.
“We make an unequivocal observation that media has a vital role in this regard. Dissemination of decontextualised videos can cause unwarranted prejudice,” the Bench observed.
After considering the report submitted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice and noting that the advocate involved no longer had any grievance, the Supreme Court decided not to pass any further directions in the matter and disposed of the proceedings.
Case Details:
Case Title: BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA Versus HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 602/2026 & connected matter
Judge: CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Decision Date: May 11, 2026
