Supreme Court takes suo motu note of SCBA resolution against Andhra HC

The Supreme Court has registered a suo motu writ petition based on a resolution passed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) concerning the detention of a young lawyer before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The SCBA expressed deep concern over the incident, while the Bar Council of India also sought intervention.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of a representation and resolution passed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) concerning the recent incident involving a member of the Bar before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. ​

As per details uploaded on the website of the apex court, a writ petition titled “Supreme Court Bar Association vs High Court of Andhra Pradesh” has been registered on the judicial side after converting the representation/resolution passed by the SCBA into a court motion petition. ​

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The matter has been registered as W.P.(C) No. 604/2026 and is presently pending consideration before the apex court. ​

According to the case details, the Supreme Court Bar Association is the petitioner, while the Andhra Pradesh High Court has been arrayed as the respondent, and the matter is tentatively likely to be listed next week.

The development comes days after the SCBA expressed “deep concern and shock” over the reported detention of a young lawyer during proceedings before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. ​

In a resolution passed by its Executive Committee on Wednesday, the SCBA referred to the incident before Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao, where a young advocate was allegedly directed to be taken into judicial custody for 24 hours during court proceedings. ​

“As per the video proceedings presently circulating in the public domain, the young Advocate repeatedly expressed regret and sought pardon before the Hon’ble Court,” the SCBA resolution had stated. ​

The apex court lawyers’ body had said the incident triggered “serious concern” among members of the Bar across the country and had “deeply disappointed young members of the legal profession”. ​

“The SCBA firmly believes that the relationship between the Bench and the Bar is founded upon mutual respect, dignity, patience, and institutional balance,” the resolution had said. ​

It had further stressed that while the authority of courts must be maintained, “the exercise of judicial powers must equally reflect restraint, proportionality, fairness, compassion”. ​

The SCBA had also cautioned that actions causing “fear, humiliation, or intimidation” among young advocates could adversely affect the independence of the Bar and the functioning of the justice delivery system. ​

It had urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to take “appropriate institutional cognisance” of the matter and consider corrective measures. Similarly, the Bar Council of India (BCI) had also written to the CJI seeking intervention in the matter. ​

In his letter, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra raised concerns about Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao’s conduct and stated that the order directing the advocate to be taken into custody was subsequently withdrawn following intervention by the Andhra Pradesh High Court Bar Association (APHCAA). ​

In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the APHCAA stated that the issue had been “amicably resolved” through mediation and timely intervention. ​

“The said incident was promptly brought to the notice of this Association, and through the earnest mediation and timely intervention of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates’ Association, the matter was resolved, without any further escalation,” the resolution said. ​

The APHCAA also said that resolutions passed by the BCI and SCBA appeared to have been issued “without verifying the complete facts or conducting a proper enquiry”, and cautioned that such actions “may not reflect the ground reality of the situation” and could adversely affect the “harmonious relationship between the Bar and the Bench”. ​