CAT Imposes ₹10,000 Cost On Senior Advocate For Appearing Without Robes [Read Order]

Jammu: The Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu Bench, has imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 on a senior advocate who appeared through audio mode and, after repeated requests to switch on his video, was seen appearing before the tribunal without uniform and, according to the tribunal, made derogatory remarks upon the court while the matter was under discussion.

A Bench of Diwakar Singh, Member (J), and Ram Mohan Johri, Member (A), passed the order on 07.10.2026 in O.A./1359/2026, titled Mohd Amin Dar v. Agriculture Production Department, a promotion matter, along with M.A./1430/2026, at Court No. 2.

The tribunal recorded that the case had come up on 01.10.2026 and was adjourned on a request by the proxy counsel for the applicant, but that the next date of hearing was inadvertently mentioned in the order sheet as 26.10.2026, whereas the date pronounced in open court was 07.10.2026, as ascertained from the cause list maintained by the Judicial Member for his personal records. The matter was listed on 07.10.2026 at serial no. 30, and counsel for the applicant submitted that he had made an application for preponement of the Original Application, which was not on record.

At this stage, Mr. Jahangir Ganai, learned senior advocate, appeared through audio mode and started making arguments without keeping his video on. The tribunal noted that, after repeated requests, he switched on his video and was seen appearing before the court without uniform, and that while the matter was under discussion he made derogatory remarks upon the court. Observing that he seemed unapologetic for appearing without uniform, the tribunal imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 on him, directing that it be deposited within one week from the date of the order.

As the miscellaneous application for preponement was not before the tribunal, it directed that the matter be listed on the next day, 08.10.2026. Learned counsel for the respondents may file objections to the miscellaneous application if they desire, and learned counsel for the applicant was directed to supply a copy of the application to the other side.

Appearances:

For the Applicant: Mr. Abhinav Sharma, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Vishal Sharma.

For the Respondents: Mr. Rajesh Thappa, Additional Advocate General; Mr. Pawan Kundal, Senior Advocate, assisted by Ms. Jagdeep Kour; and Mr. Jahangir Ganai, Senior Advocate.

Case Title: Mohd Amin Dar vs. Agriculture Production Department, O.A./1359/2026 with M.A./1430/2026 (Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu Bench)

[Read Order]