VISHVJEET AND OTHERS versus STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ANOTHER

Citation: [2026] 4 S.C.R. 184 · Decided: 17-03-2026 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: VIKRAM NATH, SANDEEP MEHTA · Disposal: Disposed off

Judgment (excerpt)

[2026] 4 S.C.R. 184 : 2026 INSC 254
Vishvjeet and Others 
v. 
State of Uttar Pradesh and Another
(Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 109 of 2026)
17 March 2026
[Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, JJ.]
Issue for Consideration
Matter pertained to acts of hooliganism by the Barabanki Bar 
Members by attacking advocate representing petitioners in toll 
plaza case.
Headnotes†
Constitution of India – Article 32 – Conduct of law 
professionals – Acts of hooliganism – Petitioners-contractual 
employees, posted for toll collection duty at the Toll Plaza 
on Lucknow-Sultanpur Highway, in District Barabanki, Uttar 
Pradesh – Advocate-complainant allegedly refused to pay 
requisite toll charges while passing through the toll plaza, and 
a verbal spat and scuffle ensued between the advocate and 
the staff at the toll plaza, and allegations that the petitioners 
assaulted the complainant – Registration of FIR at the instance 
of the complainant for the offences punishable u/ss.115(2), 352, 
351(3), 109(1), 110, 311 and 3(5) BNS – Thereafter, members of 
the Bar Association and Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh started 
violent protests and passed a resolution to the effect that no 
advocate would represent the accused persons in connection 
with the said FIR – However, one advocate, filed bail application 
on behalf of the petitioners – Thereafter, the members of the 
Bar resorted to unruly behaviour and acts of hooliganism and 
arson, by setting the office furniture of the said advocate on 
fire, burnt his effigy, and as such no advocate in Barabanki, or 
even from the nearby places willing to represent the petitioners 
and rather attempts made for representation of the petitioners 
specifically denied, resultantly, the petitioners deprived of 
access to legal remedies in the State – Writ petition u/Art.32 
seeking, inter alia, direction to be released on bail and for 
transfer of the proceedings of the criminal case arising from 
FIR to a competent Court in Delhi:
[2026] 4 S.C.R. 
185
Vishvjeet and Others v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another
Held: Legal profession, which was once regarded as a noble 
profession, has clearly been tainted and tarnished by the acts of 
hooliganism perpetrated pursuant to the fracas which took place at 
the toll plaza – Sentiment of fraternity amongst the lawyers can be 
understood but that, by no means, can justify the acts of violence 
and lawlessness which ensued when a brave lawyer came forward 
to defend the accused – These deplorable acts of hooliganism by 
the members of the bar at Barabanki deprecated – Disciplinary 
body-Bar Council of India expected to take appropriate steps in 
this regard – Bare perusal of the FIR sufficient to satisfy that it 
was not a case wherein the accused-petitioners could have been 
denied bail – No dispute that the petitioners were performing their 
duties at the toll plaza where the incident happened – Possibility 
cannot be ruled out that the complainant may have resisted the 
attempt of the petitioners in demanding toll (rightly so) resulting 
into a spat between the complainant and the employees of the 
toll plaza-petitioners – In these circumstances, denial of bail to 
the petitioners and the curtailment of their liberty for a period 
exceeding two months absolutely unjustified and violative of the 
fundamental right of liberty guaranteed u/Art.21 warranting exercise 
of the extraordinary writ jurisdiction conferred upon this Court by 
Art.32 – Petitioners to be released on bail, upon furnishing personal 
bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned Magistrate – In order 
to ensure that the accused get proper legal representation and 
fair trial, proceedings arising out of the FIR to be transferred to 
Tis Hazari Courts, New Delhi, for all further actions. [Paras 13-19]
Judicial deprecation – Conduct of law professionals – Acts of 
hooliganism – Deplorable acts of hooliganism by the members 
of the bar at Barabanki – Damage caused to the furniture etc. 
of the advocate, who had filed the bail application on behalf of 
the petitioners – Role of the members of the bar at Barabanki, 
who indulged into hooliganism deprecated and condemned. 
[Paras 14, 19]
List of Acts
Constitution of India; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; National 
Security Act, 1980.
List of Keywords
Acts of hooliganism; Members of the Barabanki Bar; Attack on the 
advocate; Toll plaza; Conduct of law professionals; Contractual 
186
[2026] 4 S.C.R.
Supreme Court Reports
employees; Toll collection duty at Tol

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