The Privilege Committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has exonerated Senior Advocates Puneet Bali and Rakesh Nehra, along with their associates, in connection with the ongoing inquiry into alleged “bench hunting” before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In its recent order, the Committee, chaired by Raj Kumar Chauhan, held that no material had emerged linking the two senior lawyers or their associates to the allegations. The order recorded that both Bali and Nehra, in their replies, categorically denied that the disputed petition had been filed from their offices or by any member of their teams. They further clarified that they were engaged only after the petition had already been filed.
It was also noted that their associates, including Sauhard Singh, Rupender Singh, Bindu Tanwar, Ankit Yadav, Anmol Chandan, Gagandeep Singh, and Aakash Sharma, had appeared purely in an assisting capacity and bore no role in the filing of the matter. The Committee concluded that no further inquiry against them was necessary, observing that both senior advocates had fully cooperated with the proceedings and upheld the highest standards of professional integrity.
However, the Committee drew attention to concerning disclosures during the probe. It recorded that several advocates representing real estate developer Roop Bansal were engaged by Delhi-based lawyers Gulshan and Siddhrath Bhardwaj, who appeared to possess unusual awareness regarding internal restrictions on case listings before certain Benches of the High Court, information that was not publicly available and reportedly unknown even to many advocates named in such orders.
Taking serious note of this, the Committee has directed that Gulshan and Siddhrath Bhardwaj be served notices through the Bar Council of Delhi, requiring their personal appearance and written replies on the next date of hearing.
Significantly, the Committee remarked that the inquiry has shed light on the broader malaise of “bench hunting,” suggesting the possible involvement of vested interests across the real estate, finance, and industrial sectors in manipulating case listings. In the interest of transparency and accountability, it has also invited advocates, litigants, and members of the public to submit information or material relating to such unethical practices.
The proceedings will now continue on August 27.
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