Today, in a significant escalation of the controversy surrounding a viral courtroom exchange at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the Bar Council of India has sought urgent intervention from the Chief Justice of India over the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao, who allegedly directed a young advocate to be taken into judicial custody for 24 hours during court proceedings. The BCI has questioned whether judicial authority was exercised with proportionality and restraint, warning that the incident raises larger concerns about judicial temperament, dignity of the Bar, and the treatment of young lawyers inside courtrooms.
The controversy began when a video clip from proceedings before Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao surfaced online, showing a visibly distressed advocate repeatedly apologising before the Court after allegedly failing to produce a copy of an order during the hearing. In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India on May 6, 2026, BCI Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra stated that despite the lawyer seeking pardon and explaining that he was unwell, directions were allegedly issued to take him into custody, with police personnel entering the courtroom. The BCI asserted that the matter appeared to involve only a procedural lapse and argued that while advocates may be corrected or proceeded against in accordance with law, such extreme measures against a young member of the Bar had deeply unsettled the legal fraternity. The body further urged the CJI to call for the video recording and examine the surrounding circumstances, while also recommending administrative steps, including withdrawal of judicial work, transfer of the judge, and judicial training on court management and Bar-Bench relations.
The BCI stressed, while calling the incident “deeply disturbing,” that the relationship between the Bench and the Bar is founded on mutual respect and institutional balance. In one of the strongest portions of the representation, the Council stated, “The dignity of the Court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open Court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse.” The letter further cautioned that such incidents may have a “chilling effect” on young advocates entering the profession and emphasised that judges command respect “not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility.”
The BCI ultimately urged immediate institutional cognizance of the issue and sought appropriate administrative review of the episode.
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