Bar council told to take suo motu action against misconduct by lawyers

Bar council told to take suo motu action against misconduct by lawyers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.06.2021

It is time the Bar council took suo motu action against unprofessional conduct of advocates as soon as it comes to its notice through digital/print media, and without awaiting a formal complaint, Madras high court has said.

Justice M Dhandapani, denying anticipatory bail to a woman advocate, Tanuja Rajan, who was booked for abusing and intimidating policemen who had stopped her daughter’s car and imposed ₹500 fine on her for lockdown violation, said: “…though this court cannot give any positive direction to the Bar Council to do one thing or the other…this court feels it is high time the Bar Council enforces Section 35 of the Advocates Act which gives it the power and authority to initiate action suo motu on the incidents which comes to its knowledge through digital or print media, for which there is no complaint given by any individual.”

Pointing out that Tanuja Rajan’s conduct on June 6 in full public view could not be brushed as an one-off act, the judge said, pointing out to a similar fracas during an election check when she had projected herself as an advocate and immune to any checks that police may conduct. “The whole act of Tanuja Rajan is not only demeaning the legal fraternity in bad light in front of the public, but it is a clear misuse of her position and professional privilege as an advocate to further her cause, which is impermissible,” he said.

Justice Dhandapani, however, granted bail to her daughter, Preeti Rajan, who is a fourth year law student.

The judge also frowned at one advocate R Krishnamoorthi, a ‘total stranger to the proceedings’, and initiated contempt of court proceedings against him for making derogatory statements on the social media against the judicial functions of the judge. “If such an act is not nipped in the bud, it will send a wrong signal to other persons to make scathing aspersions against other judges which would impede the discharge of judicial functions,” said Justice Dhandapani.

The court denied bail to advocate Tanuja Rajan who was booked for intimidating cops who had stopped her daughter’s car and imposed ₹500 fine on her for lockdown violation