Delhi High Court Orders Behavioral Assessment for Veteran Lawyer

The Delhi High Court has directed the Bar Council of Delhi to evaluate the fitness of a sexagenarian lawyer, citing acute behavioral issues. The court noted the lawyer’s frustration and poor vision, and refrained from coercive action due to his medical treatment, emphasizing the need for maintaining courtroom decorum.

Considering the ''acute behavioural issues'' of a sexagenarian lawyer who appeared before it, the Delhi High Court has directed the Bar Council of Delhi to assess whether he is fit to continue in the profession.

A bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait observed that besides having ''poor vision'', the lawyer seemed to get ''frustrated'' and ''annoyed for the reasons best known to him'' and did not ''even realize what to speak and how to speak''.

The court was hearing a criminal contempt reference against the lawyer for allegedly misbehaving and raising voice in the court of an additional district judge.

''Petitioner is an Advocate by profession, who was enrolled in the year 1984. He is in his sixties. Being an Advocate by profession, respondent is expected to maintain the dignity of the Court. The manner in which he made submission today before us confirms that he is suffering from acute behavioural issues,'' the bench, also comprising Justice Manoj Jain, said in its order passed on May 20.

In view of various medical prescriptions, the court noted that the lawyer was undergoing treatment for having behavioural issues and refrained from taking any coercive action against him for the ''disrespect'' shown to the district court.

''We discharge him, albeit, with a word of caution that whenever he appears before any Court in any case or otherwise, he would maintain the decorum of the Court. Before parting, also we direct the Registry to communicate this order to the Bar Council of Delhi, who shall direct the respondent/contemnor to appear before the Council and assess whether he is fit to continue in this profession,'' the court said.

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