In Brief
An advocate was accused of blackmailing and threatening a family, fraudulently obtaining certificates and signatures, and filing false criminal cases. The State Bar Council's Disciplinary Committee ordered his removal from the advocates' roll. He appealed to the Bar Council of India, which overturned the removal, finding the disciplinary proceedings violated statutory requirements (inquiry exceeded one-year deadline under Section 36-B) and denied him fair hearing and cross-examination. The Supreme Court upheld this reversal, finding serious procedural illegality and prejudice to the respondent. It directed that any pending criminal cases filed by the respondent against the family be quashed.
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