The Allahabad High Court has sentenced local lawyer Ashok Pande to six months of imprisonment in a contempt case for appearing in court in improper attire in 2021. A division bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and BR Singh handed down the punishment on Thursday, stating that “exemplary punishment is warranted” due to the seriousness of the charges, Pande’s past conduct, and his refusal to participate in the legal proceedings.
The court found Pande guilty of contempt after he appeared in court on August 18, 2021, without wearing the required lawyer’s robe and with his shirt unbuttoned. When his attire was challenged and he was asked to leave, Pande allegedly misbehaved with the judges, calling them “goondas.” Despite being given multiple opportunities, Pande failed to respond to the contempt charges.
In addition to the six-month jail term, the bench imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. If Pande fails to pay the fine, his imprisonment will be extended by an additional one month. The court has given Pande four weeks to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Lucknow.
The bench also issued a show cause notice to Pande, questioning why he should not be barred from practicing law at the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow bench. He has until May 1, 2025, to respond.
This case follows a history of Pande’s contemptuous behavior, including a two-year ban from the high court premises in 2017. The court made it clear that such conduct was unacceptable and warranted strict action.
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