Judge vs advocate in Delhi coaching centre deaths case: 'My right to be heard'

The Principal District and Sessions Judge of the Rouse Avenue Court, on Thursday, issued a warning to an advocate, stating she would invoke contempt of court if he misbehaved in court.

The advocate, Abhijit Anand, represented the father of Nevin Dalvil, a deceased UPSC aspirant who died in a drowning incident in Old Rajender Nagar last month. Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna cautioned Anand against any misbehavior in her courtroom, threatening to initiate contempt of court proceedings if he continued to act inappropriately.

Anand had filed an application requesting the court to summon the sanctioned building plan for the basement and third floor of the building where the drowning occurred on July 27, reported news agency ANI.

However, the court assigned the application to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) for a hearing. Despite this, Anand insisted that his application be heard by the District Judge.

The court is scheduled to promote order on the bail applications of four co-owners of the basement. Anand, representing J Dalvil Suresh, the father of the deceased, objected to the reassignment of his application and demanded that it be either dismissed or heard by the District Judge.

“It is my right to be heard. I want to make submissions,” Anand argued. In response, Judge Chandna reiterated that the application had been assigned to another court where related matters were being heard, instructing Anand to proceed to that court. "I have marked your case; you can go," she stated.

However, Anand persisted, saying, "Kindly dismiss my application," repeatedly insisting on a hearing.

Judge Chandna then sternly warned, "Don't even think you can misbehave in my court. My staff has informed me that you have been misbehaving with them since this morning."

Anand’s application sought the sanctioned building plan of the basement and third floor, including details about the drain and the lease deed of the third floor of the building where coaching classes were being conducted.

The application argued that these documents have a "direct connection" with the case and are "very relevant," making them necessary for the proceedings.

Three UPSC aspirants drowned in the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27. The deceased UPSC aspirants were identified as Shreya Yadav (25) of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala.

The deaths sparked outrage across the country and the Delhi High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the case.

Source: India Today