Ban on Anand, Khan to continue

The ban on senior advocates RK Anand and IU Khan from practicing will continue as the Supreme Court on Monday refused to suspend temporarily the Delhi High Court verdict restraining them from appearing in courts failing within its jurisdiction.

The ban on senior advocates RK Anand and IU Khan from practicing will continue as the Supreme Court on Monday refused to suspend temporarily the Delhi High Court verdict restraining them from appearing in courts failing within its jurisdiction.

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Admitting notice to the High Court, a bench headed by Justice BN Agrawal declined to entertain their plea to grant interim relief, stating that the high court had given them “a very lenient” punishment.

The bench said: “If the (high court) judgment is upheld (by the Supreme Court), then we feel that it had taken a very lenient view.”

Though the bench denied them immediate relief, it however, decided to hear their petitions for an early disposal on October 14. It said granting or declining interim relief was a court’s discretion. The reasoning came when it was contended on behalf of Anand and Khan that the high court verdict was in violation of a Constitution bench judgment delivered by the Supreme Court.

Khan and Anand have moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court ruling that has banned them from practice before it and its subordinate courts. The two were found guilty of contempt of court and interfering with administration of justice.