The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) took urgent cognisance of allegations that advocates and their client were assaulted and prevented from filing a vakalatnama inside the Lucknow District Court premises, observing that the matter concerns not only the commission of cognisable offences but also interference in the dispensation of justice. The Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla convened a special sitting at around 7:00 PM on July 21 after receiving an application from three advocates alleging physical assault, intimidation and obstruction while attempting to appear in Suit No. 2933 of 2025.

According to the application, Advocate Saurabh Kumar Verma and his associates allegedly prevented the applicants from filing their vakalatnama, assaulted them and their client, and threatened them for taking up the case. The applicants alleged that the client was dragged into the court corridor and repeatedly beaten, while one of the advocates was punched while attempting to protect his client. They further claimed they had to flee to the chamber of the presiding judge to escape the assault.

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The Court noted that the advocates had been engaged because local lawyers were allegedly unwilling to represent the plaintiffs due to the influence wielded by the respondent advocate. The application also referred to an earlier incident in April 2026 in which another plaintiff was allegedly assaulted and an FIR could not be registered despite complaints to the police.

During the hearing, the applicants played a video before the Bench, which they claimed depicted the assault. The Court observed that the footage prima facie appeared to show the plaintiff being beaten by certain advocates identified by the applicants. The Bench remarked that, if the allegations were true, the incident was “a very serious matter” and noted that similar incidents had previously compelled it to monitor law and order within the Lucknow District Court through pending public interest proceedings.

The High Court directed the District Judge, Lucknow to submit a report along with the CCTV footage from the court premises. It also ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow to file a report, collect information regarding the antecedents of the persons allegedly involved, and ensure the presence of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the SHO of Wazirganj Police Station before the Court. The District Judge informed the Bench that he had reviewed the CCTV footage and identified certain advocates allegedly involved in the incident.

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Taking note of the safety concerns raised by the applicants, the Bench directed the Police Commissionerate to provide adequate security to the advocates during their stay in Lucknow and to facilitate their appearance before the High Court. It also ordered that the injured plaintiff be produced before the Court on 22.07.2026 and indicated that the request to transfer the underlying civil suit outside Lucknow would be considered at an appropriate stage.