Bar Council Issues Notices to 16 Lawyers in Punjab & Haryana High Court Over Alleged ‘Bench Hunting’
The Privilege Committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has issued notices to 16 lawyers in connection with allegations of “bench hunting” in the High Court, terming it a serious threat to the dignity and ethics of the legal profession.
Bench hunting, also called forum shopping, is an unethical practice where litigants or their counsel attempt to have a case listed before a particular judge or bench perceived as favourable, to secure a desired order.
At the centre of the controversy is the high-profile Roop Bansal v State of Haryana case — a corruption matter involving a Gurugram-based real estate developer and a former special CBI court judge. Certain advocates allegedly resorted to bench hunting in an attempt to obtain favourable directions in this case.
The committee has sought explanations from several lawyers practising in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Supreme Court, and from senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi.
“This Committee is of the considered view that it is necessary at this stage to seek responses from Senior Advocates Sh. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sh. Mukul Rohatgi, in order to fairly and comprehensively adjudicate the matter at hand,” the notice states.
Those named in the notice include senior advocates Rakesh Nehra and Puneet Bali, and advocates JK Singla, Sidharth Bhardwaj, Aditya Aggarwal, Gagandeep Singh, Anmol Chandan, Baljeet Beniwal, Harsh Sharma, Sauhard Singh, Rupender Singh, Ankit Yadav, Ashim Singla, Aakash Sharma, Bindu, and APS Shergil. All have been directed to appear before the committee on August 16.
According to the notice, prima facie, advocate JK Singla masterminded the plan, but it was “highly unbelievable” that he acted alone. The committee suggested that other “ingenious minds” may have been involved in orchestrating the effort from behind the scenes.
The Privilege Committee was constituted on 4 August 2024 on the instructions of Bar Council chairman Rakesh Gupta, with Raj Kumar Chauhan as its head. The committee said documents before it point towards an alleged attempt to manipulate the bench allocation process in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“The sole objective of placing this matter, suo motu, before the Committee is to uphold the dignity of the legal profession, ensure the maintenance of legal ethics, and discharge the responsibilities entrusted under the law,” the notice adds.
Quoting an Indian Express report titled ‘Reassigned case: Chief Justice Nagu hints at ‘bench shopping’, says bar being destroyed’, the committee underlined the seriousness of the matter, noting there appeared to be “foul play” by advocates for Roop Bansal who may have misused procedural rules for convenience and benefit.
“In India, common people knock on the doors of the court with the help of noble advocates. Here, Roop Bansal tried to break the door of the court with the help of some ingenious-minded advocates. The matters pertaining to M3M and Roop Bansal, pending before the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court, need to be watched carefully. The Bar Council cannot remain idle as a mere spectator. It is duty-bound to protect the dignity and ethics of the profession. The Committee must trace out the rotten apples from the basket before all get spoiled,” the notice reads.
Calling the incident “painful and disturbing”, the committee remarked that certain advocates had allegedly tried to influence bench assignment in a planned, systematic, and organised way. The committee stressed that the court is the temple of justice, and any attempt to undermine it—whether motivated by greed or manipulation—must be dealt with utmost seriousness.
Drawing an analogy from the Mahabharata, the committee said: “We are reminded of the Mahabharata, where the silence of wise men in Duryodhana’s court led to the disrobing of Draupadi. This serves as a grim reminder that silence and inaction in the face of injustice enable further injustice.”
“Legal ethics are not optional. They are sacred. Upholding the dignity of this noble profession requires moral courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to truth,” it concluded.
