Punjab drugs case: Verbal spat between advocates

Chandigarh, February 22

An unsavoury scene was witnessed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court this afternoon, compelling the Chief Justice, Justice Krishna Murari, to adjourn the hearing before retiring to his chamber.

As the drugs case came up resumed hearing before the Bench of Chief Justice Murari and Justice AB Chaudhari, two senior advocates entered into a verbal spat. It happened even before any discussion could take place on a report submitted by the special task force on the issue of drug menace in the state.

Appearing before the Bench, Punjab Advocate-General Atul Nanda said a report had been submitted in a sealed cover. However, before the court could proceed further, Nanda made an apparently innocuous request. He submitted that it was essential to ascertain which lawyer was representing which party in the public interest litigation before the Bench. Nanda submitted that pleas were being filed one after the other before the Bench and they were diverting from the main issue.

Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal agreed to the request. However, senior advocate Anupam Gupta reacted sharply to the submission. What followed was a round of allegations and counter-allegations between Gupta and Mittal. The arguments took an ugly turn with comments on personal issues.

Chief Justice Murari, in turn, expressed his displeasure over the developments.  The Chief Justice asserted what would the youngsters learn from the happening, if this was the way the senior advocates were acting. — TNS