Kanpur Lawyers Launch Fierce Protest Against High Court Justice Ajay Bhanot, Demand Unconditional Apology

Kanpur : Tensions escalated in Kanpur on Wednesday as local advocates launched a vocal protest against Allahabad High Court Justice Ajay Bhanot. Demonstrators marched from the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gate to the Shatabdi Gate, chanting strong slogans and demanding an immediate, unconditional apology from the judge to the legal fraternity.

The agitation stems from a controversial incident in which Justice Ajay Bhanot allegedly coerced an advocate into apologizing to a police officer during court proceedings. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from legal professionals across the region, who view it as a direct assault on the independence and dignity of the legal profession.

Leading the demonstration, Pt. Ravindra Sharma, former president of the Kanpur Lawyers Association, expressed deep outrage over the event. Addressing the gathered crowd, Sharma stated that the entire legal community, both in Kanpur and nationwide, stands united against any form of judicial intimidation or disrespect towards advocates.

"The self-respect and honor of an advocate are non-negotiable. An insult to an individual lawyer is an insult to the entire legal institution," Sharma declared. He further reaffirmed full solidarity with the Allahabad High Court Bar Association's stance, emphasizing that lawyers will not remain passive spectators whenever their professional integrity is compromised.

Prominent members of the legal fraternity—including Bhanu Dwivedi, Saroj Upadhyay, Shailesh Trivedi, Ram Naval Kushwaha, Anand Upadhyay, Rajesh Bharti, Sanjeev Kapoor, Manish Yadav, Vivek Pandey, Suman Tiwari, N.K. Katiyar, Shivam Gangwar, and Mohammad Iftikhar—were actively present during the protest.

The advocates reiterated that their resistance would continue to intensify until Justice Bhanot publicly addresses the issue and extends an apology to the advocate fraternity, signaling a growing rift between the local bar and the judiciary over professional respect.

(Sanjay Shukla)