'Shouldn't Accept Briefs If Too Busy': Allahabad High Court Orders Removal Of Govt Counsel From KDA Panel Over Absence

A bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, which was hearing a revenue matter, noted that although the concerned advocate had accepted notice on behalf of respondent numbers 1 to 3, he was not present in court at the time of the hearing. Instead, his junior colleague appeared before the Court.

Taking exception to the same, the Court remarked:

"He is not present in the Court and his junior colleague...is present. He is Chief Standing Counsel and has been allotted the revenue work. This Court is dealing with the revenue matters and he is not present".

The single judge went on to express disapproval over the delegation of the matter to a junior as it stressed that the brief of Kanpur Development Authority should have been handled by the appointed counsel only.

In strong words, the Court directed KDA's VC to remove the counsel from the panel and to appoint 'some responsible' counsel who 'at least appears' in the Court.

Furthermore, criticising the practice of accepting briefs without ensuring appearance, the Court stated,

"If (the advocate) has so much of work and he is not able to appear in the Court, he should not accept the brief of Kanpur Development Authority which is a semi government body".

Thus, after issuing notice to respondents numbers 1 to 3, the Court directed the hearing of the matter on the date fixed in the notice.

Additionally, the Court directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Principal Secretary (Law) & LR, UP Govt.