The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that “serious action” would be taken against the errant lawyers who brazenly defied the court’s order for calm and indulged in violence in the Patiala House courts complex on February 15 and 17.
“We have taken this very seriously,” BCI chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra submitted before a Bench led by Justice J. Chelameswar.
The Bench directed the BCI to put its views on record by Monday.
‘Panel to investigate violence’
Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra said steps had been taken to set up a committee comprising a retired High Court Chief Justice, a senior advocate and a BCI member to probe the violence by lawyers in the Patiala House courts complex on February 15 and 17.
“The committee will collect video footage and the statements of lawyers and witnesses and file its recommendation on disciplinary action,” he told The Hindu .
Mr. Mishra said an emergency meeting of the BCI was scheduled for February 21.
When told that media reports had already identified the lawyers, Mr. Mishra said: “Under Indian law, they have to be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Besides, any disciplinary order of the BCI can be appealed only in the Supreme Court.”
