Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court judge Justice H D Suthar has objected to the conduct of senior advocate I H Syed during a hearing and directed that a copy of the livestreamed proceedings and its transcript be sent to the registrar general.
The matter arose during the hearing of a bail application on Nov 3.
Syed then said, “Lakhi do saaheb court paase time nathi (Write down, sir, court does not have time), according to the court’s order. It said such conduct was “not only contemptuous” but also “unbefitting to a designated senior advocate”. The judge said the conduct could not be “lightly overlooked” and referred the matter to the chief justice for consideration of “appropriate proceedings” under High Court of Gujarat (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025, if Syed were to conduct himself in a similar manner in future. The court, however, said it was extending “one more chance” to the senior advocate, expressing hope that he would abide by the rules governing senior advocates and refrain from “intolerance or indecorous behaviour” before any court. The court further said, “Despite that, there has been no improvement in his professional demeanour.”
Syed sought additional time to make oral submissions, but the judge permitted him to file written submissions, citing paucity of time ahead of the Diwali vacation. Justice Suthar directed the registry to preserve the livestream recording of the proceedings. The court observed that the remark, along with Syed’s posture, amounted to an attempt to browbeat the court and reprimand it over time management and scheduling. The order also referred to previous instances involving Syed in which benches had taken note of his conduct, including one occasion when he had apologised.