New Delhi (ILNS): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the order to suspend the advocacy licence of Advocate Vijay B Verma, the former head of the District Bar Association.
The Bench of Justice Alka Sarin ruled that the licence of Vijay B Verma on behalf of the Bar Council was suspended against the rules. Therefore, terming it as flawed, it was cancelled on the basis of technical reasons.
However, the Bar Council has been permitted to initiate disciplinary action against Verma as per the rules.
“There is no provision in the 1961 Act or the BCI Rules which empowers the State Bar Council (respondent) to pass an order of punishment, even in the interim, against an advocate. Section 35(3) of the 1961 Act gives the power of reprimanding, suspending from practice or removing the name of an Advocate from the State Roll only to the disciplinary committee. Even the BCI Rules do not bestow any such power on the State Bar Council (respondent),” observed the high court.
The licence of Vijay B Verma was suspended for three months by the Bar Council over indecent remarks on internet media. Vijay B Verma approached the high court against the decision of the council.
Due to this, the high court passed an interim order on September 1, barring the Bar Council’s disciplinary committee from taking further action on Verma.
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