P&H Bar Council Chairman Requests General Public To Avoid Addressing Him With 'Honourable', 'Hon'ble' Titles

The Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Suvir Sidhu has requested the general public to avoid using the words 'Honourable', 'Hon'ble', etc while addressing him in documents.

Stressing that such honorific titles or salutations are remnants of the British Raj and must be shirked at all levels, a general notice issued in this regard by the State Bar Council (signed by its Chairman Suvir Sidhu) further states thus:

"While celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the State Bar Council avows its resolve to shed the shackles of our colonial past and move towards Amrit Kaal. Such titles don't define our sense of judgement or intent, thus please avoid using them in your pleadings or hearings before us," the notice issued under his name states thus.

The notice also says that the Chairman has been privy to many documents i.e. professional misconduct complaints, election-related applications, representations from advocates amidst others, whereby the same have been addressed to the undersigned with certain prefixes like 'Honourable', 'Hon'ble' etc.

In view of this, the Chairman has also directed the office not to accept such documents which make reference to any prefix, and while objecting to the same, to get it rectified on the spot, to avoid any undue harassment.

Further, the notice also requests the disciplinary committee and quasi-judicial bodies performing functions under the Advocates Act, 1961 or related Rules, and falling within the ambit of the State Bar Council to follow suit.