The Odisha State Bar Council on Friday issued a notice to State Law Minister Arun Sahu asking him to explain as to why he has not surrendered his licence issued to him in 1996 by the Council to practice law even after becoming a Minister, which is considered to be a professional misconduct as per the Advocates Act of 1961.
Complaint
The notice was issued following a complaint was received here by the Council on Thursday from a member of Nayagarh Bar Association, who alleges that the Minister should have surrendered his licence to practice law immediately after taking the full time job of a Minister in the State cabinet.
Mr Sahu, a Ph. D holder in history from North Odisha University, Baripada, had obtained his law degree from the University Law College of Vani Vihar in 1993.
Upon his election as an MLA from Nayagarh Assembly segment in 2014 on a BJD ticket, he was made a Minister of State (Independent charge) of Panchayat Raj and Law.
Rules clear
According to sources in the Bar Council here, records in the Council office do not show as to Sahu ever intended to surrender his licence. The Bar Council Rules governing the advocates of the State say that a licensee is not allowed to have any gainful engagement, employment or he cannot do any business other than practicing law.
Sources further disclosed that in the absence of a suitable reply from the Minister, the Council will decide whether any action needs to be taken against him as per the Advocates Act for professional misconduct.
