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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Vivah Kendra' in lawyer's chamber: HC orders eviction, slaps perjury case
What appeared to be an ordinary legal chamber inside the Lucknow district court was allegedly operating as an unauthorised marriage centre, complete with decorations, photographs, and self-issued marriage certificates. The Allahabad high court's Lucknow bench has ordered the eviction of two lawyers found running this parallel 'Vivah Kendra' from chamber no 31 on court premises, after photographs revealed wedding ceremonies being conducted inside the judicial infrastructure. Set-up mimicked wedding venue with flowers, photos, and certificates; court questions consent and marriage validity. (Sourced) The matter came to light during the hearing of a petition purportedly filed by a woman and her alleged husband, Arun Kumar Yadav, seeking protection for himself, he claimed to have married. The division bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh was informed by the woman's counsel that she had not authorised the petition and had not married Arun Kumar. She was currently residing with her parents, a claim that was also confirmed by her father through his lawyer. The court took note that the vakalatnama and affidavit submitted with the petition had allegedly been signed by Arun Kumar without the woman's consent. Acting on the court's earlier direction, Wazirganj Police Station station house officer Rajesh Kumar Tripathi appeared before the bench on Tuesday and submitted photographs of chamber no 31 located in the old CSC building of the Lucknow district court. The images showed the chamber decorated with flowers and wedding-themed bunting. The visuals indicated that marriage ceremonies were being performed and photographed at the site. Marriage certificates were being issued in the name of a local trust, 'Pragatisheel Hindu Samaj Nyas', to couples getting married inside the chamber. The chamber bore the signage 'Brahmastra Legal Associates' and the names and mobile numbers of two advocates, Raghvendra Mishra alias 'Hindu' and Vipin Chaurasia. The court expressed serious concern over the misuse of court premises and questioned how Brahmastra Legal Associates had the authority to issue marriage certificates or 'Vivah Sanskar Patras' on behalf of a trust. The bench also pointed out that the absence of fire or ritual items in the chamber made it 'highly doubtful' that essential Hindu marriage customs, particularly 'Saptapadi', had been performed. In its order, the bench directed the eviction of the two advocates from the chamber and ordered that appropriate action be taken for running an unauthorised marriage set-up within court premises. It also directed the initiation of perjury proceedings under Sections 340 and 195 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Penal Code against Arun Kumar, for allegedly submitting a false affidavit and forging the woman's consent. The case was referred to the concerned Magistrate for further legal action. Since the petition was filed without the woman's involvement, the court dismissed it. However, the matter has been forwarded to the division bench dealing with suo motu public interest litigation concerning alleged irregularities and misconduct by advocates within the Lucknow district and sessions court. 'We have taken on record all the documents that have been placed before us. We direct the Registry to place the entire matter before the nominated division bench to take notice and take appropriate action,' the court stated in its order.


News18
5 days ago
- News18
'Vivah Kendra' In Lawyer's Chamber: Allahabad High Court Orders Eviction
Last Updated: Photographs showed that the chamber was decorated with buntings and flowers to mimic a wedding venue. The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, on July 8, 2025, uncovered that unauthorised marriage ceremonies were being held inside a lawyer's chamber within the Lucknow District Court premises. Based on the court's directions issued earlier in the day, the Station House Officer of Wazirganj Police Station, Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, appeared in person and submitted before it photographs confirming that Chamber No. 31, situated inside the old CSC building in the Lucknow District Court campus was being used to perform and photograph wedding ceremonies. The visuals corroborated that the set-up was styled as a ceremonial space, and marriage-related documents had been recovered. Photographs showed that the chamber was decorated with buntings and flowers to mimic a wedding venue. A certificate of marriage was also issued in the name of 'Pragatisheel Hindu Samaj Nyas," a Lucknow-based trust, to couples getting married at the chamber. The chamber bore the names and mobile numbers of advocates Raghvendra Mishra alias 'Hindu' and Vipin Chaurasia, and the signboard read 'Brahmastra Legal Associates". Taking strong exception to this misuse of judicial infrastructure, court ordered the eviction of the two advocates for running this parallel 'Vivah Kendra'. Moreover, court highlighted that there was no sign of any fire being lit inside the place, and therefore, it was 'highly doubtful" that 'Saptapadi', an essential ritual of any Hindu marriage, was performed by the couples solemnizing marriage at the chamber. It was also not clear how Brahmastra Legal Associate had been authorised to issue any Marriage Certificate/Vivah Sanskar Patra in the name of Pragatisheel Hindu Samaj Nyas. When the issue came to light, counsel for Arun Kumar informed the court that Arun Kumar had brought before him the signed vakalatnama allegedly bearing the signatures of Shivani Yadav, and the writ petition had been drafted on the basis of Arun Kumar's instructions. Arun Kumar had also signed the writ petition and submitted an affidavit in its support. Court held that the affidavit was apparently false and that Shivani Yadav's signature on the vakalatnama was submitted by Arun Kumar without her consent. Therefore, taking serious note of the same, court directed initiation of proceedings for perjury under Sections 340 and 195 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Penal Code respectively against Arun Kumar, and referred the matter to the Magistrate concerned for appreciation and further action. Since the girl was not involved in filing the petition, court dismissed it. However, it directed the matter to be placed before the division bench dealing with suo motu Public Interest Litigation regarding the unsavory activities being undertaken by the advocates in District and Sessions Judgeship, Lucknow. 'We have taken on record all the documents that have been placed before us. We direct the Registry to place the entire matter before the nominated division bench to take notice and take appropriate action," the present bench noted. The matter will be next heard on July 11 before the appropriate division bench. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 16:14 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.