Bar Council Of Punjab & Haryana Issues Show Cause Notice To Chandigarh Lawyer Arrested For Posing As Judicial Officer To Flout Traffic Rules

The Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana has issued a show cause notice to a lawyer who was arrested for allegedly posing as a judicial officer and flouting traffic rules in Chandigarh. In a viral video, Prakash Singh, an advocate by profession, was seen arguing with the traffic police after he was stopped for hanging a cloth on his number plate. He claimed that he was a Judicial Magistrate and fled away.

The State Bar Council took suo moto cognizance of the alleged misconduct and sought a response from Singh on the notice issued. Prakash is reportedly booked under Sections 170 (personating a public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duties) and 419 (cheating by personation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The notice has been issued under 35(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, according to which, when the  State Bar Council has reason to believe that any advocate on its roll has been guilty of professional or other misconduct, it shall refer the case for disposal to its disciplinary committee. Thereafter, the disciplinary committee of a State Bar Council shall fix a date for the hearing of the case and shall cause a notice thereof to be given to the advocate concerned and to the Advocate-General of the State.

In the notice, the disciplinary committee of the Council has sought response of Singh and directed them to appear in person on May 23.