Advocate absent after ‘shock due to loss’ in bar association election, notes MP High Court

Madhya Pradesh High Court officials have noted an advocate's absence during a hearing, attributing it to the shock experienced following a recent loss in the bar association elections. The election results were announced on August 18, following a poll held on August 17. A bench comprising Justices Vivek Agrawal and Avanindra Kumar Singh issued an order on August 19, stating, "It appears that under shock due to loss in election to the High Court Bar Association, arguing counsel is not available today."

The court expressed concern that the advocate had requested the matter to be listed for the next day, August 20. During a previous hearing on this case, the advocate had sought permission for the court to list the case after the election day, as he was contesting the bar association election. The bench was handling a plea contesting an administrative order that had permanently halted a retired government employee's pension due to a criminal conviction by a sessions court on September 16, 2022.

The petitioner contended that the state had permanently terminated the pension without providing the opportunity for a hearing, thereby contravening the principles of natural justice.

In the previous session, the court had stayed the enforcement of the pension-withholding order and was assessing whether the state's action adhered to pension regulations and constitutional procedural fairness.