Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
ABHAS JAISWAL
B.A.LL.B (HONS.)
ROLL NO. - 03
FACULTY OF LAW,
UNIVERSITY OF ALLAHABAD
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Professional Ethics
ACKNOWLDGEMENT
Writing a project is not an easy task it requires hard labour, deep study and thorough
knowledge of the topic given. Thus who helped in making this project successful I would like
to express my deep feeling of gratitude towards them for being a hand of support for me
always.
First of all I would like to thank my subject teacher Mr. Rajiv Sharma who has given me
opportunity to make this project and enlightened me with the intricacy of the subject.
Secondly I would show my gratitude towards my friends who guided me all through making
this project successful. Lastly I would thank my family for being a support in each and every
thing required for completing this project.
Abhas Jaiswal
X semester
Section A
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INDEX
Sr. No.
1.
Description
Acknowledgement
Page No.
2
2.
Introduction
3.
4.
a
b
c
8
8
9
11
5.
Bibliography
14
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INTRODUCTION
Advocacy is a noble profession and an advocate is the most accountable, privileged and
erudite person of the society and his act are role model for the society, which are necessary to
be regulated. Professional misconduct is the behaviour outside the bounds of what is
considered acceptable or worthy of its membership by the governing body of a profession.
Professional misconduct refers to disgraceful or dishonourable conduct not befitting an
advocate. Chapter V of the Advocate Act, 1961, deals with the conduct of Advocates. It
describes provisions relating to punishment for professional and other misconducts. Section
35(1) of the Advocate Act, 1961, says, where on receipt of a complaint or otherwise a State
Bar Council has reason to believe that any advocate on its roll has been guilty of professional
or other misconduct, it shall refer the case for disposal to it disciplinary committee. Generally
legal profession is not a trade or business, its a gracious, noble, and decontaminated
profession of the society. Members belonging to this profession should not encourage
deceitfulness and corruption, but they have to strive to secure justice to their clients. The
credibility and reputation of the profession depends upon the manner in which the members
of the profession conduct themselves. Its a symbol of healthy relationship between Bar and
Bench.
The Advocates Act, 1961 as well Indian Bar Council are silent in providing exact definition
for professional misconduct because of its wide scope, though under Advocates Act, 1961 to
take disciplinary action punishments are prescribed when the credibility and reputation on the
profession comes under a clout on account of acts of omission and commission by any
member of the profession.
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that the term misconduct may involve moral turpitude, it must be improper or wrong
behaviour, unlawful behaviour, willful in character, a forbidden act, a transgression of
established and definite rule of action or code of conduct, but not mere error of judgement,
carelessness or negligence in performance of duty.
The Supreme Court has, in some of its decisions, elucidated on the concept of misconduct,
and its application. In Sambhu Ram Yadav v. Hanuman Das Khatry, a complaint was filed
by the appellant against an advocate to the Bar Council of Rajasthan, that while appearing in
a suit as a counsel, he wrote a letter stating that the concerned judge, before whom the suit is
pending accepts bribes, and asked for Rs. 10,000 to bribe and influence the judge to obtain a
favourable order. The Disciplinary Committee, holding that the advocate was guilty if
misconduct, stated that such an act made the advocate totally unfit to be a lawyer. The
Supreme Court, upholding the finding of the Rajasthan Bar Council held that the legal
profession is not a trade or business. Members belonging to the profession have a particular
duty to uphold the integrity of the profession and to discourage corruption in order to ensure
that justice is secured in a legal manner. The act of the advocate was misconduct of the
highest degree as it not only obstructed the administration of justice, but eroded the
reputation of the profession in the opinion of the public.
In another case, Noratanman Courasia v. M. R. Murali the Supreme Court explored the
amplitude and extent of the words professional misconduct in Section 35 of the Advocates
Act. The facts of the case involved an advocate (appearing as a litigant in the capacity of the
respondent, and not an advocate in a rent control proceeding) assaulted and kicked the
complainant and asked him to refrain from proceeding with the case. The main issue in this
case was whether the act of the advocate amounted to misconduct, the action against which
could be initiated in the Bar Council, even though he was not acting in the capacity of an
advocate. It was upheld by the Supreme Court that a lawyer is obliged to observe the norms
of behaviour expected of him, which make him worthy of the confidence of the community in
him as an officer of the Court.
Therefore, inspite of the fact that he was not acting in his capacity as an advocate, his
behaviour was unfit for an advocate, and the Bar Council was justified in proceeding with the
disciplinary proceedings against him.
It may be noted that in arriving at the decision in the case, the Supreme Court carried out an
over-view of the jurisprudence of the courts in the area of misconduct of advocates. It
reiterated that the term misconduct is incapable of a precise definition. Broadly speaking, it
envisages any instance of breach of discipline. It means improper behaviour, intentional
wrongdoing or deliberate violation of a rule of standard of behaviour. The term may also
include wrongful intention, which is not a mere error of judgment. Therefore, misconduct,
though incapable of a precise definition, acquires its connotation from the context, the
delinquency in its performance and its effect on the discipline and the nature of duty.
In N.G. Dastane v. Shrikant S. Shind, where the advocate of one of the parties was asking
for continuous adjournments to the immense inconvenience of the opposite party, it was held
by the Supreme Court that seeking adjournments for postponing the examination of witnesses
who were present without making other arrangements for examining such witnesses is a
dereliction of the duty that an advocate owed to the Court, amounting to misconduct.
Ultimately, as it has been upheld and reiterated that misconduct would cover any activity or
conduct which his professional brethren of good repute and competency would reasonably
regard as disgraceful or dishonourable. It may be noted that the scope of misconduct is not
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restricted by technical interpretations of rules of conduct. This was proven conclusively in the
case of Bar Council of Maharashtra v. M.V. Dahbolkar.
The facts under consideration involved advocates positioning themselves at the entrance to
the Magistrates courts and rushing towards potential litigants, often leading to an ugly
scrimmage to snatch briefs and undercutting of fees. The Disciplinary Committee of the state
Bar Council found such behavior to amount to professional misconduct, but on appeal to the
Bar Council of India, it was the Bar Council of India absolved them of all charges of
professional misconduct on the ground that the conduct did not contravene Rule 36 of the
Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette as the rule required solicitation of work
from a particular person with respect to a particular case, and this case did not meet all the
necessary criteria, and such method of solicitation could not amount to misconduct. This
approach of the Bar council of India was heavily reprimanded by the Supreme Court. It was
held that restrictive interpretation of the relevant rule by splitting up the text does not imply
that the conduct of the advocates was warranted or justified. The standard of conduct of
advocates flows from the broad cannons of ethics and high tome of behaviour. It was held
that professional ethics cannot be contained in a Bar Council rule nor in traditional cant in
the books but in new canons of conscience which will command the member of the calling of
justice to obey rules or morality and utility. Misconduct of advocates should thus be
understood in a context-specific, dynamic sense, which captures the role of the advocate in
the society at large.
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However no such order of the review of the disciplinary committee of a State Bar
Council shall have effect, unless it has been approved by the Bar Council of India.
Section 37: Appeal to the Bar Council of India1. Any person aggrieved by an order of the disciplinary committee of the State
Bar Council made Under Section 35 or the Advocate General of the State may
within 60 days of the date of the communication of the order to him, prefer an
appeal to the Bar Council of India.
2. Every such appeal shall be heard by the disciplinary committee of the BCI
which may pass such order including order varying the punishment awarded by
the disciplinary committee of the State Bar Council as it deems fit.
3. No order of the disciplinary committee of the State Bar Council shall be varied
by the disciplinary committee of the BCI so as to prejudicially affect the person
aggrieved without giving him reasonable opportunity of being heard.
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Section 38: Appeal to the Supreme CourtAny person aggrieved by an order made by the disciplinary committee of the Bar
Council of India under Section 36 or Section 37 or the Attorney General of India or
the Advocate General of the state concerned, as the case may be , may within 60 days
of the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to the
supreme court and the supreme court may pass such order including an order varying
the punishment awarded by the disciplinary committee of the Bar council of India
thereon as it deems fit. However no order of the disciplinary committee of the Bar
council of India shall be varied by the Supreme Court so as to prejudicially affect the
person aggrieved without giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Professional Misconduct vis-a-vis Contempt of Court
The ambit of contempt proceedings is much wider than proceedings for professional
misconduct as proceedings for professional misconduct can be carried out against the
advocate only whereas contempt proceedings can be initiated against members of bar
and bench both.
In case of contempt of court there is no fixed procedure for initiation or punishment
of the accused/guilty and whereas proceedings in case of professional misconduct are
to be carried out as per the Advocates Act 1966 which lays down a detailed procedure
for the same.
Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act are not applicable in case of
proceedings for contempt of court as these proceedings are carried on the basis of the
principles of Natural Justice, objectivity and fairness respectively.
In contempt of court proceedings cross examination is allowed in limited cases only.
For example in case of contempt proceedings against R.K Anand, Mr. R.K. Anand was
not allowed to cross examine Ponam Aggarwal who was in charge of the sting
operation. Whereas cross-examination is an important aspect of proceedings for
professional misconduct.
The punishment for contempt of court as envisaged in the Contempt of Court Act is
also different from the punishment for professional misconduct as envisaged under
Advocates Act, 1966.
It is to be noted that proceedings for contempt and professional misconduct can be
carried out simultaneously.
Case: Suo Motto Enquiry v. Nand Lal Balwani
Facts: The respondent advocate hurled the shoes and shouted slogans in the Supreme
Court of India.Both contempt and proceedings for professional misconduct were
initiated against him.
Held: The Supreme Court found him guilty for contempt of court and awarded him a
simple imprisonment for four months and fine of 2000 Rupees. Further the DC of BCI
also found him guilty of professional misconduct and ordered his name to be removed
from the roll of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
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With reference to Article 142 of the Constitution of India the Court observed that when this
court takes cognizance of a matter of contempt of Court by an advocate, there is no case,
cause or matter before it regarding his professional misconduct even though in a given case,
the contempt committed by an advocate may also amount to an abuse of the privilege granted
to an advocate by virtue of the license to practice law. No issue relating to his suspension
from practice is the subject matter of the case.
The Court opined that power to punish in matters of contempt of Court, though quite wide, is
yet limited and cannot be expanded to include the power to determine whether the advocate is
also guilty of professional misconduct in a summary manner giving a go by to the procedure
prescribed under the Advocates Act, 1961.
The power to do complete justice, in a way is a corrective power which gives preference to
equity over law but it cannot be used to deprive a professional lawyer of the due process of
law, contained in the Advocates Act, 1961, while dealing with a case of contempt of Court.
From a reading of Article 142 it is clear the statutory provisions cannot be ignored or taken
away or assumed by the Supreme Court. The Advocates Act, 1961, empowers the Bar
Council to take action against the advocate for professional misconduct. The Bar Council is
empowered under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 to punish advocates for professional
misconduct. The act contains a detailed and complete mechanism for suspending or revoking
the license of an advocate. A disciplinary committee hears the case of the advocate concerned
and then order any of the punishments listed in Section 35(3) (ad). If the advocate is guilty of
contempt of Court as well as professional misconduct the Court must punish him for the
contempt, whereas refer the professional misconduct to the Bar. The Bar will then initiate
proceedings against, this provides the advocate with right to be heard and appropriate action
is taken by the disciplinary committee. After such proceedings if the advocate is aggrieved he
may approach the Supreme Court. Section 38 of the Advocates Act, 1961 provides for an
appeal to the Supreme Court. This Section confers upon the Court appellate jurisdiction. If
once the matter has been reported to the Bar and it does not take any action, the Court may
take up the matter. This Section can in no way be construed to give original jurisdiction to the
Court.
The Court opined that the Supreme Court makes the statutory bodies and other organs of the
State perform their duties in accordance with law, its role is unexceptionable but it is not
permissible for the Supreme Court to take over the role of the bodies and other organs of the
State and perform their functions. There was an inherent fallacy in the case of Vinay Mishra,
it was said once the matter is before the court it can pass any order or direction. But the
matter is that of contempt of Court not of professional misconduct. The Court has jurisdiction
on the matter of contempt but professional misconduct vests with the Bar. As the Bar can
suspend an advocate only after giving him an opportunity to represent himself which is the
requirement of due process of law, after the case of Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India. The
Court in Vinay's case vested with itself with the jurisdiction that it never had.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Websites:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
www.scribd.com
www.wikipedia.com
http://www.legalserviceindia.com/articles/sc_t.htm
http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/print.php?art_id=1621
www.google.com
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