On Thursday, the Allahabad High Court directed the Vice-Chairman of the Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) to remove one of its panel advocates after he failed to appear before the Court in a revenue matter, despite having accepted notice on behalf of the respondents. The matter was heard by a single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal.
The Court noted with displeasure that although the concerned panel counsel had accepted notice on behalf of respondent numbers 1 to 3, he was absent at the time of hearing. Instead, his junior colleague appeared and attempted to address the Court.
Expressing strong disapproval, the Court observed:
"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 Court emphasised that the matter pertaining to the Kanpur Development Authority, a semi-government body, ought to have been handled by the designated panel counsel himself, and not delegated to a junior. Highlighting the professional responsibility involved, the Court further remarked:
"If he 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."
Accordingly, the Court directed the Vice-Chairman of the KDA to remove the advocate from its panel and appoint a more responsible counsel who ensures presence during hearings.
In addition to issuing notice to respondents 1 to 3, the Court fixed the next date of hearing in accordance with the date mentioned in the notice. The Court also ordered that a copy of the order be sent to the Principal Secretary (Law) and the Legal Remembrancer (LR), Government of Uttar Pradesh, for necessary attention.
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