New Delhi: In a swift and unprecedented administrative move, the Delhi High Court has stripped a senior district judge of his judicial duties following a dramatic and highly volatile altercation inside a courtroom at the Rohini District Court complex. The confrontation, which involved a senior judicial officer and the head of the local lawyers' body, has triggered widespread outrage, a city-wide strike by lawyers, and a deep institutional rift within Delhi's legal fraternity.

The Spark: Denial of Passover Escalates into Verbal War

The incident unfolded during routine court proceedings when a heated verbal exchange erupted between District Judge Rakesh Kumar-V (District Judge-04, North-West District, Rohini Courts) and Advocate Rajiv Tehlan, who serves as the President of the Rohini Court Bar Association.

According to eyewitness accounts and court reports, the friction began when the judge reportedly denied the lawyer's request for a "passover" (postponement of the hearing to a later hour in the day). The disagreement rapidly degenerated into a shouting match, with both sides allegedly breaching professional decorum.

A video recording of the incident captured inside the courtroom swiftly leaked and went viral across multiple social media platforms. In the widely circulated footage, the lawyer is heard accusing the judge of using derogatory words and warning him against misbehavior. In response, the judge is heard fiercely telling the advocate not to threaten him, stating, "I know you are connected to High Court judges, but I will not back down. I dare you to do something to me." Reports from legal networks also indicated that highly provocative insults were traded, bringing the courtroom atmosphere to the brink of physical volatility before security staff intervened.

High Court Intervenes: Judge Shunted to Judicial Academy

As public outcry and professional resentment intensified, the Delhi High Court stepped in. On the evening of May 17, 2026, under the directives of the Chief Justice and senior companion judges, High Court Registrar General Arun Bhardwaj issued an immediate administrative order.

Judge Rakesh Kumar-V was abruptly relieved of his active courtroom duties and attached to the Delhi Judicial Academy "in a diverted capacity." To ensure the smooth functioning of the Rohini court, District Judge Dheeraj Mittal, who was previously serving as the Additional Director at the academy, was immediately transferred to take over Judge Kumar’s roster. To minimize inconvenience to litigants, the High Court directed that any judgments already reserved by the outgoing judge must be pronounced within two to three weeks.

Legal Fraternity Divided: Strikes vs. Courtroom Decorum

The fallout from the incident has polarized Delhi’s legal community, leading to separate stands taken by the advocates' associations and the judicial officers' union:

• The Bar Associations’ Stand: The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi held an emergency meeting, branding Judge Kumar’s behavior as "highly objectionable and unbecoming of a judicial officer." Demanding an immediate inquiry, the committee called for a complete strike, urging lawyers across all Delhi district courts to abstain from judicial work to protect the dignity of the bar.

• The Judicial Officers' Counter-Stand: On the other side, the Judicial Service Association of Delhi expressed profound anguish and solidarity with Judge Kumar. The association strongly condemned the "clandestine and illegal recording" of internal court proceedings. They labeled the viral dissemination of the video a direct assault on the independence and majesty of the judiciary, claiming it was a calculated attempt to subject judges to public vilification and intimidation.

While the administrative transfer has temporarily defused immediate tensions, the incident has renewed critical debates surrounding courtroom decorum, the security of judicial officers, and the complex power dynamics between the bench and the bar in India's lower courts.