P&H High Court Rejects Quashing Plea By Lawyer Booked For ‘Casteist Goons’ Remark In Speech

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to grant relief to advocate Rajat Kalsan, who is facing an FIR for allegedly calling villagers “casteist goons” during a public speech.

The case relates to remarks made at a public meeting concerning a 2024 murder, following which an FIR was registered in July 2025.

Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj held that the repeated and conscious use of the term “caste” showed intent and could not be treated as casual or incidental speech. The Court observed that such remarks have the potential to disturb public order, and an advocate’s professional duty is to represent clients before courts, not to mobilise crowds or lead public agitations.

Finding no satisfactory explanation for the expression used, the Court dismissed the plea.

[Rajat Kalsan v. State of Haryana]