IAS vs Lawyers in Jalaun: Bar Association Boycotts Revenue Courts Over SDM Rinkoo Singh Rahee’s Working Style, Officer Rejects Allegations
A fresh confrontation between the legal fraternity and the district administration has brought Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun district into the spotlight. The District Bar Association has announced an indefinite boycott of revenue courts, alleging irregularities in the functioning of 2023-batch IAS officer Rinkoo Singh Rahee, who is currently serving as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Judicial), Orai.
The protest, which came into effect on Tuesday, has the potential to disrupt the hearing of hundreds of pending revenue cases, ranging from land ownership disputes and mutation matters to demarcation and succession cases. While the Bar Association has accused the officer of passing orders without giving adequate opportunity to litigants and lawyers, Rahee has firmly rejected the allegations and insisted that every action taken by him is strictly in accordance with the law.
In an unusual move aimed at countering the accusations, the young IAS officer also released a nearly three-hour-long video of court proceedings, asserting that his courtroom functions transparently and in complete compliance with legal procedures.
Bar Association Announces Indefinite Boycott
The dispute escalated after the Jalaun District Bar Association resolved that its members would stop appearing before revenue courts until there is what it describes as a meaningful change in the working style of the SDM (Judicial).
According to a letter issued by the association’s Vice President, Omnarayan Singh, advocates have already submitted complaints against Rinkoo Singh Rahee to District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Pandey on three separate occasions. The lawyers claim that despite repeated representations, their concerns have not been adequately addressed, prompting them to intensify their protest through a court boycott.
The association maintains that the decision was taken collectively and will remain in force until the administration responds to their grievances.
Lawyers Level Multiple Allegations
The Bar Association has outlined several objections regarding the functioning of the SDM (Judicial). According to the advocates, ex parte orders are allegedly being passed even when lawyers or litigants are not present before the court.
They also allege that members of the Bar are subjected to discourteous behaviour during court proceedings, creating an atmosphere that affects the smooth conduct of judicial work.The lawyers further contend that these issues are impacting public confidence in revenue court proceedings and have sought administrative intervention to address their concerns.
At present, the administration has not officially commented on the specific allegations made by the Bar Association.
Revenue Court Proceedings Likely to Be Hit
The boycott is expected to have a direct impact on the functioning of revenue courts across Jalaun district. A large number of matters listed before the courts could face adjournments if advocates continue to abstain from proceedings.
Among the cases likely to be affected are land mutation (dakhil-kharij), boundary and demarcation disputes, land ownership conflicts, succession-related revenue matters and appeals pending before tehsil-level revenue courts.
For litigants, many of whom have already been waiting for months for their cases to move forward, the boycott could result in additional delays and inconvenience. Revenue courts play a crucial role in resolving rural land disputes, making uninterrupted functioning essential for both citizens and local administration.
IAS Officer Responds by Releasing Court Proceedings
Facing mounting criticism, IAS officer Rinkoo Singh Rahee adopted an unusual approach by releasing a video of nearly 2 hours and 48 minutes from court proceedings on social media.
According to the officer, the recording reflects routine judicial work and demonstrates that proceedings are conducted peacefully and in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.
The footage reportedly contains no visible confrontation or heated exchanges, a point that Rahee believes supports his claim that the allegations against him are unfounded. By placing the proceedings in the public domain, the officer appears to have sought to reinforce transparency and allow people to assess his courtroom conduct for themselves.
“I Am Working Strictly According to Law”
Responding to the controversy, Rinkoo Singh Rahee categorically denied all allegations of misconduct. The IAS officer said that every order passed by him is based solely on legal provisions and established procedures.
He also clarified that he has no personal disagreement with any advocate or individual associated with the legal fraternity. According to him, his only objective is to ensure that cases are decided fairly, lawfully and without unnecessary delay.
Rahee reiterated that he remains committed to delivering justice within the framework of the law and will continue discharging his responsibilities accordingly.
Officer Has Been at the Centre of Multiple Controversies
The latest dispute is not the first instance in which the 2023-batch IAS officer has attracted public attention since assuming charge as SDM (Judicial), Orai, on May 5. Within a relatively short period, his tenure has witnessed several controversies involving different sections of society and the administration.
Soon after taking charge, concerns regarding his working style were reportedly raised by teachers, lekhpals, traders and employees working in the tehsil. Later, on June 23, an inspection of a cold storage facility owned by a BJP Block Pramukh triggered another controversy after allegations surfaced regarding a scuffle and an attempted slap.
The matter was subsequently referred for inquiry, with Additional District Magistrate (Finance & Revenue) Rajiv Raj and Additional Superintendent of Police Ishant Soni conducting the investigation. The inquiry is still pending.
The officer again made headlines in July after issuing a communication advocating the principle of “Half Work, Half Pay.” The proposal generated widespread discussion among government employees and administrative circles, with opinions sharply divided over its implications.
Another controversy followed on July 28, when Rinkoo Singh Rahee was removed from the inquiry team investigating matters related to the Orai Municipality. The development led to a public exchange of allegations between him and Additional District Magistrate Premchandra Maurya, further drawing attention to the administrative environment in the district.
As a result of these successive developments, the young IAS officer has remained one of the most talked-about administrative officers in Jalaun over the past few months.
Administration Monitoring the Situation
With the boycott now underway, the district administration is closely monitoring developments to prevent prolonged disruption in revenue court functioning. Officials are understood to be assessing the situation and exploring ways to resolve the impasse between the Bar Association and the administration.
Although there has been no formal announcement regarding talks between the two sides, efforts are expected to ensure that judicial work resumes without prolonged interruption.
For now, uncertainty continues over the functioning of revenue courts in Jalaun. If the boycott persists, hundreds of pending cases involving land records, property rights and other revenue matters could face further delays, affecting litigants across the district.
The coming days are likely to determine whether dialogue between the Bar Association and the administration can resolve the dispute or whether the confrontation deepens, adding to the challenges already facing the district’s revenue justice system.
