The Supreme Court has stayed an order of the
Allahabad High Court which imposed costs of Rs 1 lakh on an advocate for
wasting the court's "precious time" and arguing a case wearing a
lawyer's robe and a band despite being a petitioner in-person.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan
issued limited notice on whether adverse remarks made by the high court against
advocate Mehmood Pracha need to be expunged.
"Issue notice for the limited purpose as to why
the observations made by the high court against the petitioner be not expunged
and why the order imposing cost be not set aside, returnable on December 9,
2024.
"Meanwhile, the impugned order dated September
10, 2024, to the extent of imposition of cost shall remain stayed," the
bench directed.
Pracha moved the top court against an order of the
Allahabad High Court which found him guilty of wasting "precious
time" for filing a petition which was already filed before Delhi High
Court.
The high court had also noted that Pracha appeared
in the matter wearing his coat and band and argued the matter without informing
the court that he was appearing in person.
It had imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on Pracha.
"In light of the fact that this writ petition
has been wrongly filed and has resulted in the loss of precious time of this
court coupled with the inappropriate methodology adopted by the petitioner
appearing in person, this writ petition is dismissed with cost payable for the
sum of Rs 1,00,000.
"This cost shall be paid to the Uttar Pradesh
State Legal Services Authority within a period of 30 days from the date. In the
event the cost is not paid, Registrar General is directed to take necessary
action for recovery of the same in accordance with law," the high court
had said.
Pracha had moved the high court seeking entire
videography and CCTV footage pertaining to the conduct of elections at Rampur
Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh.