Supreme Court Intervenes: Advocate's Rs 1 Lakh Penalty Stalled

The Supreme Court has halted an Allahabad High Court order imposing a Rs 1 lakh fine on advocate Mehmood Pracha for filing a duplicative petition and misrepresenting himself in court. The apex court will determine if adverse remarks against Pracha should be removed. Further hearings are set for December 2024.

The Supreme Court has stayed an Allahabad High Court decision which levied Rs 1 lakh against an advocate for wasting judicial time. Advocate Mehmood Pracha was fined for duplicating a petition in the Delhi High Court and misrepresenting his court appearance.

Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan decided to issue a limited notice regarding the potential expunging of adverse remarks made against Pracha. A decision on whether to set aside the cost order is expected by December 9, 2024.

Pracha faced penalties after the high court found he filed a case inappropriately, subsequently using court time inefficiently. Directed to pay Rs 1 lakh to the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Pracha appealed to the Supreme Court, leading to the current temporary stay.

(With inputs from agencies.)