Allahabad High Court lawyers protest and vandalise courtroom

Lawyers at the Allahabad High Court engaged in a protest that escalated into vandalism within the courtroom of Justice Ajay Bhanot on October 28, 2026. The demonstration followed allegations of judicial misconduct by the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, which claimed the judge humiliated an advocate and mocked a senior lawyer during previous proceedings.

During the unrest, protesters reportedly raised slogans and hurled furniture, including tables and chairs, toward the dais. Some reports also suggested a shoe may have been thrown at the judge, though this remains unconfirmed. In response, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal directed the registrar to review CCTV footage to identify those involved for potential contempt of court proceedings.

The Bar Association had previously written to Chief Justice Arun Bhansali seeking action, alleging that Justice Bhanot had threatened to jail an advocate who questioned a police officer's seating arrangement and had acted in a manner that undermined the dignity of the legal profession.