Madras High Court today issued notice to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and the Bar Council of India on petitions filed by four advocates challenging disciplinary proceedings initiated against them for alleged unruly conduct protesting CISF personnel manning the court's security.
A bench comprising justices Satish K Agnihotri and P Devadoss issued the notice on the petitions challenging the order passed by BTCP Chairman D Selvam initiating disciplinary proceedings and to set-aside the December 31, 2015 order by BCI chief Mannan Kumar Misra transferring the proceedings to Karnataka State Bar Council.
The action was initiated pursuant to a complaint received from Registrar General of the high court forwarding the report of senior commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force, which has taken charge of the security of inner circle of the court complex.
Petitioners Williams, K Sathyabal, Rajarajan and Prasad submitted they were served a letter on November 26, 2015 communicating their prohibition from practicing before courts and tribunals.
They contended that neither the complaint copy nor orders passed by the BCI or BCTP were served on them. No charge sheet or supporting materials were also furnished.
The chain of events gives an impression that the entire proceedings were being steered by the CISF, almost giving the impression of court martial proceedings.
Procedure prescribed by law and the parliament have been completely thrown to the winds, they alleged and contended that the transfer of the disciplinary proceedings to Karnataka was without jurisdiction and illegal.
