Attendance forgery by lawyers: Advocate assns told to share details
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:29.01.2020
About a week after unearthing the forged attendance scam involving at least 1,000 lawyers, the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has instructed all advocate associations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, seeking details of lawyers who had obtained law degrees when they were employed in government or private organisations.
Council’s chairman P S Amalraj issued a circular to this effect on Tuesday, in view of arrest of principal of an Andhra Pradesh-based private law college for having helped about 1,000 culprits get fake attendance certificates. They have all been enrolled as advocates in Tamil Nadu on the basis of such forged certificates. Earlier, on January 25, the council warned that such advocates of severe action, including criminal prosecution.
The issue came to light when Vipin – a retired employee of the Southern Railways — approached the council for enrolment. He claimed that he had successfully completed law degree from Smt Basava Rama Tarakam Memorial Law College, Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh in 2015-18. As per the guidelines set by the Madras high court, candidates who have secured law degrees from states other than Tamil Nadu are mandated to produce attendance certificates from the college. Vipin had produced an attendance certificate, which on verification by the council, was found to be forged and obtained in connivance with the college’s principal Himavantha Kumar. Kumar was arrested subsequently. A preliminary investigation revealed that more than 1,000 advocates enrolled with the council had obtained such forged certificates from the college.
Briefing reporters, Amalraj said: “Such people must surrender their enrolment certificates immediately. If not, criminal action will be initiated against them besides ensuring that pension and other benefits they enjoy are stopped.” Amalraj said a dedicated committee has been appointed to verify the veracity of certificates produced by candidates with other state law degrees.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:29.01.2020
About a week after unearthing the forged attendance scam involving at least 1,000 lawyers, the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has instructed all advocate associations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, seeking details of lawyers who had obtained law degrees when they were employed in government or private organisations.
Council’s chairman P S Amalraj issued a circular to this effect on Tuesday, in view of arrest of principal of an Andhra Pradesh-based private law college for having helped about 1,000 culprits get fake attendance certificates. They have all been enrolled as advocates in Tamil Nadu on the basis of such forged certificates. Earlier, on January 25, the council warned that such advocates of severe action, including criminal prosecution.
The issue came to light when Vipin – a retired employee of the Southern Railways — approached the council for enrolment. He claimed that he had successfully completed law degree from Smt Basava Rama Tarakam Memorial Law College, Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh in 2015-18. As per the guidelines set by the Madras high court, candidates who have secured law degrees from states other than Tamil Nadu are mandated to produce attendance certificates from the college. Vipin had produced an attendance certificate, which on verification by the council, was found to be forged and obtained in connivance with the college’s principal Himavantha Kumar. Kumar was arrested subsequently. A preliminary investigation revealed that more than 1,000 advocates enrolled with the council had obtained such forged certificates from the college.
Briefing reporters, Amalraj said: “Such people must surrender their enrolment certificates immediately. If not, criminal action will be initiated against them besides ensuring that pension and other benefits they enjoy are stopped.” Amalraj said a dedicated committee has been appointed to verify the veracity of certificates produced by candidates with other state law degrees.
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