Merely Signing Petitions Does Not Give Advocate The Right To Argue Case As Otherwise It Would Render Vakalatnama Redundant: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has observed that simply signing the petitions does not give a right to the counsel to argue the matter as otherwise there would be no purpose for filing the vakalatnama.

The bench of Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar made this observation while granting one last opportunity to the petitioners to address the arguments in the case as none of the advocates for the petitioner had appeared before the Court.

During the hearing Advocate Bakul Jain submitted that Advocate Gurpreet Singh was in Kolkata hence he was not able to come to the Court to address the arguments.

The Court noted that as per the vakalatnama filed on behalf of the petitioner, Advocate Gurpreet Singh was not the counsel in the case and that three other counsels' vakalatnamas were on record, however, none of them had appeared before the Court.

Advocate Bakul Jain submitted that the applications and petitions have been signed by Advocate Gurpreet Singh.

To this the Court responded “In my opinion, simply signing the petitions does not give a right to the counsel to argue the matter as otherwise there would be no purpose for filing the vakalatnama in this case.”

The Court further noted that the vakalatnama in these circumstances would be rendered redundant if such arguments are accepted.

“The vakalatnama in these circumstances be redundant if the arguments of learned counsel for the petitioner is to be appreciated.”, the Court observed.

“In the interest of justice, one last opportunity is granted to the petitioners to address the arguments.”, the Court said while posting the matter for further hearing.

Cause Title- Sanjay Dhingra & Anr. v. CBI

Click here to read/download Order