Lawyer Mahesh Tiwari Clashes With Justice Rajesh Kumar in Jharkhand HC; Case Goes Viral

A tense confrontation between Justice Rajesh Kumar of the Jharkhand High Court and senior advocate Mahesh Tiwari erupted into a criminal contempt proceeding following a viral livestreamed video of the exchange that has ignited debates on courtroom decorum and judicial authority. The incident unfolded during a hearing on Thursday in Ranchi, where Tiwari intervened to defend a colleague's argument in a case involving a widow facing electricity disconnection over Rs 1.30 lakh in dues. What began as a procedural dispute escalated into personal barbs, with Tiwari accusing the judge of humiliation and the bench retorting on contemptuous conduct, highlighting simmering tensions in India's overburdened judiciary, where lawyer-judge frictions occasionally spill into public view.

The altercation ignited when the primary counsel sought urgent relief for the client, prompting Justice Kumar to critique the argumentative style as unethical and suggestive of bias against the court. "What sort of argument is this? Are we doing injustice? "If I dismissed your case, then injustice has been done?" the judge remarked, urging the Bar Council chairman to address the lawyer's demeanour. From the courtroom's rear, Tiwari, a 40-year veteran of the bar, stepped forward assertively, raising his hand and retorting, "I can argue in my own way, not in your way in which you say. Please mind that... Don't try to humiliate any advocate, I am telling you."

The judge countered sharply, prohibiting accusations of judicial injustice, to which Tiwari demanded a review of the live recording, clarifying he had merely prayed for intervention. The exchange peaked with Tiwari's impassioned plea: "The country is burning with the judiciary... You know a lot because you are a judge and we are advocates? I will argue in my own way. Don't cross the limit."

Tiwari stormed out amid efforts by fellow advocates to calm the scene, leaving the courtroom in stunned silence captured by the mandatory live stream under the e-Courts Project, which has broadcast over 50 lakh proceedings since 2020 to promote transparency. The footage, rapidly shared across social media platforms, amassed millions of views within hours, drawing polarised reactions: supporters hailed Tiwari's stand as a defence of advocates' dignity, while critics decried it as undermining judicial respect.

Jharkhand High Court Registrar General Vandana Upadhyay confirmed the contempt filing against Tiwari under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which penalises acts scandalising or lowering court authority, potentially facing up to six months' imprisonment or a Rs 2,000 fine. The Bar Association issued a statement calling for dialogue, emphasising mutual respect in an institution handling over 1.5 lakh cases annually in Jharkhand alone.

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This episode resonates amid broader judicial strains, including a backlog exceeding 50 million cases nationwide and recent Supreme Court guidelines on lawyer conduct post a similar 2024 Delhi High Court spat. The Jharkhand Bar Council, representing 15,000 members, has convened an emergency meeting to review the matter, while Justice Kumar continues hearings. As the contempt petition advances—likely before a larger bench—the viral video underscores the e-Courts initiative's double-edged sword: enhancing accountability while amplifying raw courtroom dynamics.

Legal experts anticipate it may prompt renewed training on ethics, fostering healthier judge-advocate relations essential for justice delivery in a democracy where public faith in courts hovers at 60%, per recent surveys. The resolution could set precedents for managing such flare-ups, balancing free expression with institutional sanctity.

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