Allahabad High Court Orders CCTV Probe After Lawyers Vandalise Justice Bhanot’s Courtroom

A protest by lawyers in Justice Ajay Bhanot’s courtroom at Allahabad High Court on 28 Oct 2026 turned violent when chairs were hurled and shelves toppled. The incident followed a letter from the newly elected High Court Bar Association to Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, demanding action over Justice Bhanot’s conduct on 27 Oct. Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal directed the Registrar (Protocol) to review CCTV footage from a camera outside Court No. 66 to identify the advocates who shouted slogans and vandalised the room. The registrar must submit a report by 19 Nov. After identification, the matter may be referred to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh for disciplinary proceedings and to the court for contempt proceedings.

The court noted that some advocates were also protesting outside Court No. 49 during working hours. Justice Deshwal said such conduct interferes with court proceedings and is contemptuous. The dispute reportedly began when an advocate asked a police superintendent to vacate a seat, leading to a heated exchange with Justice Bhanot and a government advocate. The Bar Association described the judge’s conduct as contemptuous and urged the chief justice to act.

The court’s order aims to restore decorum in the courtroom and to hold the involved lawyers accountable. Verification can be done by reviewing the CCTV footage and the registrar’s report, which will be filed with the court by the specified deadline.