Supreme Court Halts 1 Lakh Fine on Advocate Mehmood Pracha Amid Forum Shopping Dispute
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a pivotal action, the Supreme Court has stayed the Allahabad High Court’s imposition of a ₹1 lakh fine on advocate Mahmud Pracha, who was penalized for allegedly engaging in forum shopping and improperly arguing his case while appearing as a petitioner in person. The Supreme Court’s intervention, issued on Friday, raises questions about the validity of the High court’s observations and the rationale behind the imposed costs.
Pracha had approached the Allahabad High Court seeking verification of video recordings from the electoral process of the Rampur Lok Sabha seat, which he contested as an independent candidate in the 2024 general elections. The Election Commission of India had provided these videos following his request to the Delhi High Court.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed his petition, criticizing Pracha’s conduct, which it deemed wasted valuable court time, and remarked on his attire, suggesting it was inappropriate for a petitioner representing himself. Consequently, it imposed the hefty fine.
In its order, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to address why the High Court’s remarks should not be annulled, scheduling a return date for further deliberation on December 9, 2024. Until then, the apex court has instructed that the order imposing the costs remains in abeyance.
A team of advocates, including Tasneem Ahmadi, RHA Sikander, Jatin Bhatt, Sanawar, Kshijit Singh, Mahima Rathi, Pragya Rathi, Nuzhat Naseem, and Shazia Sultan, represented Pracha in the Supreme Court, arguing that the case’s jurisdiction was appropriate and the imposition of costs unwarranted. The legal community awaits further clarification on the matter, as the Supreme Court examines the foundational issues of jurisdiction and the parameters of forum shopping in judicial proceedings.
