CJI Warns Against ‘Gunda Raj’ After Lawyer Alleges Assault Inside Courtroom
CJI Says ‘Gunda Raj’ Has No Place in Courts, Directs Lawyer to Approach Delhi HC Chief Justice
New Delhi, Feb 9: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday strongly condemned what he described as “Gunda Raj” after a lawyer alleged that he was physically assaulted inside a district court courtroom in the national capital. Terming such incidents a failure of the rule of law, the CJI directed the advocate to formally approach the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court for appropriate administrative action.
The observations came after a lawyer sought urgent listing of his plea before a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria. The advocate alleged that he was attacked by the opposing counsel and others while appearing for an accused before Additional District Judge Harjit Singh Pal at Tis Hazari Courts on February 7.
According to the lawyer, the alleged assault took place in the presence of the presiding judge and court staff. He claimed he was beaten by a group accompanying the complainant’s counsel during the hearing.
Responding to the submission, the Chief Justice asked whether the incident had been brought to the notice of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice. He instructed the lawyer to submit a written representation to the High Court Chief Justice and mark a copy to him.
“This kind of ‘Gunda Raj’ is unacceptable. It reflects a breakdown of the rule of law,” the CJI said, adding that the matter should be dealt with on the administrative side by the jurisdictional High Court.
The bench subsequently asked the lawyer to seek relief before the appropriate High Court forum.
