No immediate relief for 16 lawyers amid ‘bench hunting’ allegations

The 16 lawyers put on notice have failed to get immediate relief from the Bar Council of India (BCI) in connection with a "bench hunting" case. The hearing on their revision and stay petitions were postponed today.

Some of the lawyers who have been issued notices in the case challenged the order passed by the privilege committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana putting them on notice.

On August 13, the BCI had directed the secretary Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (BCPH) to send original records pertaining to the alleged "bench hunting" case and fixed the hearing on Monday.

But the in the order passed today, the BCI said "the above case which was fixed for hearing on Monday, August 18, 2025, through hybrid mode has been postponed, due to unavoidable circumstances. We shall take up the matter on the next earliest feasible date and the same shall be communicated to you in due course."

The move follows observations made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Roop Bansal vs State of Haryana case where Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, in the open court, flagged concerns over "bench shopping" and warned that such conduct was "destroying the Bar.

The privilege committee, chaired by Raj Kumar Chauhan, had issued an order dated August 7, 2025, directed the advocates to appear in person or through counsel on August 16 with their replies. The notices have been issued to 16 lawyers including two senior advocates.

The chairperson of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana had on On August 4 ordered an inquiry into allegations of some high court advocates resorting to bench hunting to secure favourable orders.

In the last hearing of the case held on August 16 the privilege committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana high court observed that "the comments from the

High Court are alarming for the legal profession. They call into question the dignity and ethical standard of legal profession. This committee recognising the exceptional nature of this matter, is duty bound to conduct fair inquiry in the allegations and has issued notice to the respondent-advocates, in view of the record available in the public domain."

"In compliance of the order of the BCI, this committee directs the Additional Secretary to prepare a parallel file and send to the Bar Council of India in compliance of the letter / order. After the detailed fact finding preliminary inquiry, this Committee will place its report / recommendation before the General House of BCPH for further action, if any required," it added.