Supreme Court Criticises Lawyers, Grants Bail To Toll Staff In UP Toll Plaza Case
Top court criticises lawyers’ violence in UP case, grants bail to toll staff and seeks disciplinary action.
The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticised members of the legal fraternity over acts of violence linked to a toll plaza dispute in Uttar Pradesh, remarking that the profession has been “tainted” by incidents of hooliganism. The court’s observations came while hearing a case stemming from a January altercation on the Lucknow-Sultanpur highway.
The incident dates back to January 14, when a lawyer, Ratnesh Shukla, allegedly refused to pay toll charges at a highway plaza, leading to a confrontation with staff. The argument escalated into a physical scuffle, during which toll employees were accused of assaulting the lawyer. Following the incident, a police complaint was filed, resulting in the arrest of the toll plaza workers.
The situation took a more serious turn after a local bar association passed a resolution directing that no lawyer should represent the arrested toll employees. When an advocate chose to defy the directive and appeared for the accused, a group of lawyers allegedly vandalised his office and set furniture on fire, triggering widespread concern over professional conduct.
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A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed strong disapproval, calling the developments a “very sorry state of affairs.” The court described the lawyer who represented the accused despite the resolution as “brave,” while condemning the violence as unjustifiable and damaging to the dignity of the legal profession.
In its March 17 order, the apex court granted bail to the toll plaza employees and directed that the case be transferred to Delhi. It also instructed the Uttar Pradesh Police to ensure the safety of the accused while they remain out on bail, reflecting concerns over potential retaliation.
The court further criticised the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh for its role in the matter, noting that it had urged the state government to invoke the National Security Act against the toll employees despite the incident arising from what the court termed a “trivial scuffle.” The bench also called upon the Bar Council of India to take appropriate disciplinary action against those involved in the acts of violence.
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