A disciplinary committee of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has “directed” the council to issue a circular instructing all bar associations in the State to keep court campuses free of alcohol, cigarettes, other tobacco products, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The committee chaired by advocate G. Thalaimutharasu of Madurai had issued the direction while disposing of suo motu disciplinary proceedings initiated against three lawyers accused of consuming liquor inside the Madras High Court campus in Chennai on October 14.
According to the order, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, High Court Range, had submitted a report to the Registrar General of the High Court on October 15 along with a video footage accusing the three lawyers of having set up a mini bar at about 9.30 p.m. The report was forwarded to the Bar Council on October 19 and the lawyers were suspended from practice on November 23. Thereafter, the disciplinary committee began a detailed enquiry on December 12 and gave an opportunity to the lawyers to defend themselves. Filing a counter affidavit, the first accused claimed to have been drinking apple juice on that day. He tendered an unconditional apology for being present on the court campus during night hours. The other two advocates also denied having consumed liquor . Claiming that they had not done any wrong but for being present during night hours, they also tendered an unconditional apology. Accepting their apologies, the committee dropped proceedings against them.
