The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench has expressed serious concern over an incident in which a group of persons allegedly dressed as lawyers trespassed into a property in Lucknow, vandalised the premises and assaulted workers, while police personnel present at the spot allegedly remained passive spectators.
A Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla was hearing a public interest litigation filed by a practising advocate concerning the incident that allegedly took place on July 7, 2026, at premises used for cricket coaching and marriage functions, which is also the subject of a property dispute.
According to the petition, videos circulated on social media showed several persons wearing lawyers’ attire entering the premises, abusing those present, threatening them, assaulting staff and labourers, throwing bricks and damaging CCTV cameras. An FIR had already been lodged by the person claiming possession of the property, naming several advocates as accused.
The Court also took note of a status report filed by the police, which referred to the involvement of several lawyers, including the brother of the General Secretary of the Central Bar Association. It observed that the allegations in the present case, coupled with another matter heard the same day involving office-bearers of the Bar Association, painted a “disturbing scenario.”
After watching the video footage produced in a pen drive, the Bench observed that it depicted a large group of lawyers allegedly trespassing into the premises and engaging in hooliganism and vandalism in an apparent attempt to take over the property. The Court noted submissions that such groups of lawyers were allegedly functioning as vigilantes, promising to settle property disputes through extra-legal means, thereby bringing the legal profession into disrepute and undermining the rule of law.
The High Court was particularly critical of the role of the police. It noted that the video showed the presence of 10–15 police personnel throughout the incident, which allegedly continued from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., yet no meaningful action was taken to stop the trespassers or apprehend them. The Court questioned why additional police force was not effectively deployed and why the alleged offenders were allowed to remain inside the premises for nearly four hours.
Observing that the police personnel appeared to be treating the alleged trespassers in a friendly manner, the Bench remarked that it could not rule out the possibility that the local police had facilitated the alleged illegalities.
Accordingly, the Court:
● Impleaded the Bar Council of India and the U.P. Bar Council through their respective Secretaries as parties to the PIL.
● Directed that the matter be listed on July 23, 2026, along with the connected batch of petitions concerning alleged misconduct by advocates.
● Directed the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, to join the next hearing through video conferencing.
● Directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), the concerned DCP and ACP to appear before the Court.
● Directed the Commissioner of Police to inquire into the reasons for the alleged police inaction despite the presence of police personnel at the spot and to examine the video footage before the next hearing.
● Directed that the pen drive containing the video footage be retained in a sealed cover and that a copy of the footage be separately preserved by the Registry.
● Directed the Police Commissioner, Lucknow, to ensure the security of the petitioner who instituted the PIL.
