Kerala High Court Imposes ₹50,000 Costs on Advocates for Stalling Proceedings Over Fee Dispute
The Kerala High Court imposed ₹50,000 costs on advocates who attempted to stall execution proceedings due to unpaid fees.
The dispute arose from a long-pending land acquisition matter, where lawyers, after being replaced, allegedly delayed disbursement to decree holders by initiating multiple actions.
The Court termed such conduct “pernicious,” holding that advocates cannot hold clients hostage or obstruct justice over fee disputes.
It reaffirmed that clients have an absolute right to change counsel and that fee recovery must be pursued through appropriate civil remedies, not by interfering with court proceedings.
