BCI will urge government to revoke old laws and simplify existing legislation
The Bar Council of India (BCI) will celebrate its golden jubilee in a fitting manner in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other State capitals over a year beginning December.
The BCI was formed in 1961 as a regulatory body for the legal profession governed by the Indian Advocates Act. It has powers to enquire into professional misconduct and initiate disciplinary action against erring members. It has control over the State Bar Councils also.
When the silver jubilee was celebrated in 1986, the total number of advocates in the country was around three lakh. However, in the last 25 years, with the BCI streamlining legal education, there has been a tremendous growth, particularly after it took the initiative to establish law schools in various States. Now, there are about 13 lakh advocates and the BCI is controlling and regulating over 900 colleges imparting three and five-year law courses.
Celebrations panel
For the historic occasion, BCI Chairman Ashok K. Parija has constituted a golden jubilee ceremony committee comprising members Satish Abarao Deshmukh, S. Prabakaran and T.S. Ajith, representing Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.
Mr. Prabakaran, who will be the chairman of the committee, toldThe Hinduthat the celebrations would commence next month with the inaugural event in New Delhi, followed by functions in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, where there are chartered High Courts, each with great historical significance. Similar functions would be held in other State capitals and other places where High Courts and High Court Benches are functioning. Seminar, lectures and special moot court competitions for law students would be held.
Asked about other plans, he said the BCI would request the Union government to repeal all old laws and simplify the existing ones for the benefit of the common man. The Law Commission recommendations in this regard must be accepted.
No compromise on autonomy
The BCI would not allow its autonomy to be eroded and would request the government that the HRD Ministry proposal to have control over the legal profession be dropped. It would also request the judiciary to ensure more transparency in judicial appointments.
Keywords: Bar Council of India, golden jubilee
More than thirty years ago my brother hired an attorney in USA to recover his money from someone. The attorney got the money but tried to pocket it. On behalf of my brother I complained to the State Bar Association. With no immediate reply coming from the association I wrote a complaint to the chief justice by name of the State Supreme Court. By the time my letter reached, that justice was transferred and a new judge had become the chief justice. Still instead of giving any excuse the new chief justice personally replied to me promptly and asked the administrator of the court to look into the matter. Subsequently bar association investigated and my brother's attorney hurriedly returned the money to get me off his back as quickly as possible. Can we expect those kinds of conduct from any chief justice or bar association in India ? Will they ever step down from ivory tower to care to respond to a commoner such as I am ?
"It has powers to enquire into professional misconduct and initiate disciplinary action against erring members. It has control over the State Bar Councils also." The above statements should be highlighted. An average person may not know that he can seek redress through the Bar Council if he perceives malpractice in the conduct of lawyers. At times some unscrupulous lawyers steal the client's money. Sometimes the lawyers collude with the adversaries to the clients and deliberately compromise the interests of the clients. It would be ludicrous were it not a cruel myth for some lawyers to project that they can at the same time represent the interests of the opposing factions. When lawyers indulge in such repugnant behaviour clients must know that they can move the Bar Council to investigate into the conduct of the lawyers. Pertinent question is, "Will the lawyers in Bar Council fulfill their professional obligation to investigate the fraternity members without fear or favour?"
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