Parliament Question: Breach of Decorum in Courtrooms

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2085 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 31st JULY, 2026 BREACH OF DECORUM IN COURTROOMS 2085. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of increasing incidents of breach of decorum in courtrooms, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to uphold the dignity of judicial proceedings across all courts; (b) whether guidelines exist for maintaining discipline and decorum in court premises, if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to ensure strict enforcement; (c) whether instances of misconduct by advocates or litigants have risen in recent years, if so, the details thereof and the disciplinary actions initiated against violators; (d) whether co-ordination between with the Supreme Court of India with High Courts to strengthen courtroom discipline, if so, the details thereof including the outcomes achieved; and (e) whether the Government proposes to amend the existing laws to address contempt and misconduct within courtrooms, if so, the details thereof and the timeline for their implementation? 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 (d): As per Article 227 of the Constitution of India, High Courts exercise administrative superintendence over all courts under their jurisdiction. The Central Government does not maintain a centralized database for tracking incidents of breach of decorum in courtrooms. The Bar Council of India (BCI) is mandated to lay down the rules pertaining to standards of conduct and professional etiquette to be maintained by advocates in court, with clients and towards fellow advocates. The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils can take action against the erring Advocate(s) under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961. An advocate can be prosecuted under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961, and can also be awarded punishments of (i) Reprimand, (ii) Suspension of license and (iii) Removal of name from roll of the State Bar Council, if it is found that he has committed professional misconduct or other misconduct under the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961. 1The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and High Courts are Constitutional courts working independently. They maintain discipline and decorum in courtrooms as per their own rules, regulations and guidelines. As per circular dated 21.07.2026, the Hon’ble Supreme Court notified a resolution as per which, in undesirable incidents resulting from disruptive conduct of Parties-in-Person, a party-in-person shall be given the option to appear through virtual mode. However, if the party- in-person insists on physical appearance only, such appearance shall be subject to the condition that no live streaming shall be done and no video recording of the proceedings shall be permitted. 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 alia 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 manner. (e): There is no legislative proposal currently pending to amend the existing laws to address contempt and misconduct within courtrooms. **** 2