In a latest development concerning the assault of Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia in a courtroom in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court has taken action on Monday.  The Court issued a notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh regarding the troubling revelation that CCTV cameras in the courtroom where the assault occurred were non-functional.

The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, acted upon receiving a report highlighting the inoperable state of the CCTV cameras. Expressing deep concern, the Court emphasized the critical role of CCTV footage in preserving evidence, especially in cases as sensitive as this.

The report underscored the failure to address repeated requests to maintain functional CCTV cameras, raising serious questions about the preservation of crucial evidence. Consequently, the Court not only ordered the circulation of the report to all relevant parties, including the Bar Council of India (BCI), but also issued a notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh, demanding accountability.

During the proceedings, Advocate Garima Prashad represented the State, while the Court reiterated the gravity of the situation. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud underscored the Court's unwavering commitment to ensuring the integrity of legal proceedings and preventing any undue influence on judicial officers or legal practitioners.

It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of the assault on Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia and Advocate Muskan Gupta at a Greater Noida Court on March 21. The incident, which reportedly occurred during a strike observed by lawyers, raised concerns about the safety and security of individuals within the premises of the district court.

In response to the incident, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the President of the Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) Bar Association and directed the district judge to submit a detailed report. Furthermore, the Court instructed the preservation of CCTV footage of the assault incident pending further orders.

Case: In Re Assault on Two Members of the Supreme Court Bar Association at Gautam Budh Nagar District Court Complex.