Supreme Court Upholds 3‑Year License Suspension for Advocate Over Harassment; Rs. 1 Lakh Cost Imposed

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a matter related to the order of the Bar Council of India’s Disciplinary Committee, stating that the advocate was guilty of professional misconduct and was punished with a three-year suspension of his license. The matter was presented before the top Court by the advocate against the order of the BCI. The SC bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with the BCI’s order, noting that the advocate was harassing the woman-complainant by making scandalous allegations against her. Moreover, the top Court also imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh on the advocate. The order reads as follows: “Having regard to the serious misconduct carried out by the appellant-advocate, who appears to be an obstinate character in making scandalous allegations against the respondent-complainant, we do not want to take any lenient view. The appeal is accordingly dismissed with a cost of Rs. 1 lakh.” The SC also directed “the Collector to attach the properties of the appellant for recovery of the cost amount, which shall be paid to the respondent…as compensation within a period of three months. The Bar Council is directed not to renew the license of the appellant without prior permission of this Court.”