On March 6, 2025 an incident before the Kerala High Court prompted members of the legal fraternity to demand an apology from Justice A. Badharudeen. The issue arose when a lawyer, who had recently lost her husband in January, sought additional time to file a change of vakalatnama. Allegedly, the judge responded in a manner perceived as uncharitable and rude. He reportedly questioned, "Who is Alex Scaria?"—a remark that, according to lawyers, disrespected the memory of the deceased.

Following this, Senior Advocate George Poonthottam, along with several other lawyers, proposed a resolution calling for an urgent general body meeting of the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA). The resolution criticized Justice Badharudeen’s conduct as inappropriate for a judge and insisted that an apology was warranted.

Responding to the resolution, KHCAA convened a meeting at 10 AM on March 7, where members resolved to express their collective dissent by gathering in Justice Badharudeen’s courtroom to demand a public apology. However, the judge did not extend an apology in open court. Instead, he offered to apologize in his chambers, a proposal that was rejected by KHCAA President Yeshwanth Shenoy and other members. Consequently, the lawyers resolved to boycott proceedings before Justice Badharudeen.

The matter was later brought before Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, who acknowledged the lawyers' grievances. He assured them that he would discuss the issue with Justice Badharudeen over the weekend to seek a resolution.

This is not the first instance where concerns have been raised regarding Justice Badharudeen’s conduct. In February 2023, both KHCAA and the Bar Council of Kerala submitted a letter to the Chief Justice, alleging that the judge’s interactions with lawyers were often humiliating and insensitive. This complaint was prompted by an incident where Advocate Jayakumar Namboodiri TV was denied an adjournment despite suffering from a serious back injury.

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