Lawyers’ protest over Orissa HC bench: Bar Council of India suspends 29 licenses

Bhubaneswar: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended the license of 29 advocates for 18 months with immediate effect. The 29 lawyers allegedly indulged in vandalism of the court in Sambalpur on Monday.

Releasing a press note, the Bar Council of India said, “In view of the acts of vandalism indulged into by striking lawyers of Sambalpur District Bar Association (Odisha) they have been seen to be indulged in shouting slogans, burning effigies of Judges and Office Bearers of Bar Council of India and State Bar Council, entering in the Court Room and damaging the computer sets and other properties inside and outside the Court Rooms and further manhandling the police officers and personnel fighting and abusing them, which conduct is grossly against professional conduct and etiquettes, the Hong)le Chairman, Bar Council of India, has suspended 29 striking Advocates for a period of 18 months with immediate effect and has further suspended all the members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association till further orders.”

Videos were placed before the Bar Council which disclosed that almost all the lawyers practicing there are badly indulged in shouting slogans, burning effigies of Judges and Office Bearers of the Bar Council of India and State Bar Council, entering the Court Room, and damaging the computer sets and other properties inside and outside the Court Rooms. The Members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association are also seen manhandling the police officers and personnel fighting and abusing them, said BCI.

The BCI has ordered further that the licenses of the practice of all the members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association will remain under suspension till further orders and none of the members of the Sambalpur Bar Association will be allowed to practice and enter into the Court premises.

“The final decision with regard to the members of said Bar Association, leaving aside 29 above advocates who have already been suspended, will be taken after getting the report of the Ld. Registrar as well as the State Bar Council” informed the BCI.