In a stern move underscoring the judiciary’s intolerance for misconduct, the Allahabad High Court has sentenced Advocate Asok Pandey to six months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 for using abusive and derogatory language against judges during open court proceedings in 2021. The Court also directed him to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, within four weeks to serve the sentence.
The Bench of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Brij Raj Singh delivered the verdict while also issuing a show-cause notice asking Pandey to explain why he should not be barred from practicing before the High Court for the next three years. The next hearing on this aspect is scheduled for May 1.
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The contempt proceedings stemmed from an incident on August 18, 2021, before a Bench of Justices Ritu Raj Awasthi and Dinesh Kumar Singh. According to the Court’s findings, Pandey appeared in inappropriate attire—civilian clothes with an unbuttoned shirt—and refused to comply when advised to dress properly. He then went on to disrupt proceedings and reportedly referred to the judges as “goondas,” shocking the courtroom with his conduct.
The Court found that Pandey not only failed to show remorse but also ignored multiple opportunities to defend himself during the proceedings. Despite being served with specific charges and allowed to respond, he submitted no affidavit or explanation.
“His persistent noncooperation with the Court, coupled with his silence in response to the specific charges framed, leads us to infer that he has no defense to offer and remains recalcitrant and unrepentant,” the Court remarked.
This is not Pandey’s first brush with judicial censure. The Court highlighted a troubling pattern of behavior dating back to 2003, including a prior contempt case in which he was barred from entering the High Court premises for two years.
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“Such repeated misconduct shows that the contemnor is not merely misguided but is intentionally engaged in a pattern of behaviour aimed at undermining the authority of this Court,” the judgment said.
The Court concluded that Pandey’s actions constituted criminal contempt and demonstrated a continued disregard for the dignity of the judiciary.
“In case of failure to pay the fine within one month, the contemnor shall undergo further imprisonment of one month,” the Bench ordered.