Parliament Question: Decorum in Courtroom

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2244 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 31ST JULY, 2026 DECORUM IN COURTROOM

2244. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether training or sensitisation programmes are conducted for advocates regarding courtroom behaviour, if so, the details thereof and the effectiveness of such initiatives;

(b) whether adequate security arrangements are in place in court premises to prevent disruptions, if so, the details thereof and gaps identified;

(c) whether technological interventions such as CCTV monitoring are being used to ensure courtroom discipline, if so, the details thereof and coverage across courts;

(d) whether complaints regarding unruly behaviour or intimidation in courtrooms have been received, if so, the details thereof and the actions taken to address such concerns; and

(e) whether the Government has consulted the Bar Council of India to enforce professional conduct standards, if so, the details thereof and compliance measures thereon? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (e): Chapter II of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules (Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette) lays down the standards of professional conduct to be observed by Advocates. The Rules, inter alia, require every advocate to maintain a respectful attitude towards the Court, conduct himself/herself with dignity and propriety, use dignified language, and uphold the honour and dignity of the judicial institution.

The Advocates Act, 1961 provides a statutory mechanism for enforcement of professional conduct and discipline of advocates. Sections 35 and 36 of the Act empower the State Bar Councils and the Bar Council of India, respectively, to initiate disciplinary proceedings and impose appropriate penalties in cases of professional or other misconduct. The standards of professional conduct and etiquette are prescribed under Chapter II of Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules, and compliance thereof is enforced through the disciplinary framework provided under the Act.

The incidences involving breach of decorum in courtroom can also be dealt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which defines and limits the powers of certain courts in punishing contempt of courts and regulates their procedure in relation thereto. The Act inter 1alia addresses the acts of publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which— (i) scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or (ii) prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or (iii) interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.

The Central Government does not maintain a centralized database for tracking complaints regarding unruly behaviour or intimidation in courtrooms. ‘Police’ and ‘Public

Order’ are State subjects under the Constitution. The responsibility to provide security to institutions including courts lies primarily with the State Governments. Government deploys Central Armed Police Forces to aid and assist State Governments to maintain law and order, and extends financial assistance to them to modernize and build capacity of their police forces.

The Supreme Court of India, in its order dated 11.08.2023 in the Writ Petition

(Criminal) No. 99 of 2015 (Pradyuman Bisht versus Union of India & others), while laying down guidelines regarding security measures in the courts, directed that the schematics of CCTV camera installation will have to be laid down on a district-wise basis where the respective State Governments should provide the requisite funds for the execution of such a plan in a timely manner. The Court further directed that upon the finalisation of the security plan, the High Courts may entrust the responsibility of installation and maintenance of the CCTV cameras with the concerned District and Sessions Judges for a more realistic analysis of local requirements.

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