The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa has started disciplinary proceedings against a lawyer, who filed a public interest litigation (PIL) against a sitting Bombay High Court judge, leading to tarnishing her image, as well as of the judiciary.
The Council constituted a three-member disciplinary committee against Advocate Mursalin Shaikh for making ‘frivolous’ allegations against Justice Revati Mohite Dere in the social media, amounting to cheap publicity, besides sensationalising and scandalising the image of the judiciary, said a press release issued by the Council.
Earlier, the advocate had sought orders against the appointment of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud as the Chief Justice of India, which was dismissed.
In spite of being an Advocate and having knowledge of The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985 and also the Rules, Regulations and policy of filing PIL, the lawyer filed such a frivolous and cantankerous PIL. A suo motu disciplinary committee enquiry has been ordered against the lawyer for this reason, besides for making frivolous allegations in social media against the High Court judge, noted the Council.
It said the enquiry committee will make enquiry as per Section 35 of the Advocates Act 1961.
A PIL filed by Advocate Vijay Kurle on behalf of Shaikh on March 9 sought the judge’s criminal prosecution regarding adjudication of a few cases.
Justice Dere is the daughter of Senior Advocate Vijayrao Mohite. She donned several hats before she was elevated as a judge of the Bombay High Court in 2013.
Strongly condemning the filing of frivolous PIL, which made baseless allegations against Justice Revati Mohite Dere, the Bar Council, in a virtual meeting on March 27, unanimously resolved to
condemn the recent trend of certain elements of making such allegations viral on social media and trying to get cheap and adverse publicity.