D Selvam, Chairman of Bar Council, said eight lawyers from Madurai, one from Nagapattinam and another from Ramanthapuram had not submitted a proper reply to the show cause notice issued to them for 'unruly behaviour' and 'total professional misconduct' in the first court hall on September 14, 2015.
Seven others had also indulged in similar behavior and raised slogans against the judiciary on September 16 in the Madras High Court. They had also tried to barge into a court hall when suo motu contempt proceedings initiated against two Madurai lawyers were in progress and prevented the court from discharging its judicial functions, he said.
Selvam said that in order to prevent such incidents in future in the court premises, it was the duty of the Council to take firm and severe action against the erring advocates.
"Hence, in the interest of public, in order to maintain dignity and decorum and to uphold the professional etiquette of the legal profession, the Council is of the opinion that some corrective steps should be taken against them," he said.
Therefore, the Bar council has passed a resolution prohibiting the 20 advocates from practicing as advocates in any court or tribunal, either in their name or in any assumed name till disposal of the suo motu complaint initiated against them, Selvam said.