Two Law Students Arrested for Disrupting Supreme Court Hearing
Two law students were arrested for allegedly harassing, assaulting security personnel and disrupting proceedings during a petition hearing in the Supreme Court, police said on Wednesday. Prabal Pratap Singh (24), a third-year law student of Lucknow University from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, who appeared as the petitioner himself, and Chander Bhan (23), a second-year law student from Raebareli district, were arrested in connection with the incident.
According to police, the incident took place on July 10 during the hearing of Special Leave Petition (Civil), Prabal Pratap and Another v. State of Uttar Pradesh, through Commissioner, in Court No. 13 of the top court.
Police said Prabal Pratap, who appeared as the petitioner himself, disrupted the court proceedings by using abusive and unparliamentary language, throwing papers in the courtroom and creating chaos.
“When the security personnel intervened to maintain civility and restrain him, he used punitive force against the complainant, preventing him from discharging his official duties,” said a senior police officer.
Following the Supreme Court’s observations regarding the behavior of the accused, both were taken to the Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for medical examination. Doctors said neither of them required immediate psychiatric intervention, police said.
During the investigation, the police seized leaflets containing objectionable words in the possession of the defendant.
An FIR under sections 132, 221, 224 and 3(5) was registered at Tilak Marg police station following a complaint by a member of the High Court security staff. Both men were arrested and subsequently held in police custody for two days for further questioning. Police added that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
