"Suspension Won't Do, Need Major Steps" : Supreme Court Asks Bar Council Of India To Act Against Advocates' Strikes

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the Bar Council of India, being a major body, has to come up with propositions to handle situations regarding advocates agitating and going on strikes.

A bench comprising of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sudhanshu Dhulia expressed that, "This is a matter which should concern all of us not only on the point of law but otherwise as well and all of us have to apply ourselves in the matter."

The bench also expressed that the Bar Council of India has to play a major role to come up with some solution. Advocate Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad appearing for the Bar Council of India apprised the Court that it has taken action and suspended the lawyers in Odisha who were boycotting courts. The bench observed that, "Suspending won't do.....Bar Council of India is only taking short measures....Some major steps are required to be taken."

The court gave three weeks time to the parties to file short notes in the matter and listed the matter for Further hearing on 24th January, 2023.

The top court had recently observed that it expected the the Bar Council of India to suspend the licenses of the lawyers who have been striking in Odisha over a long-standing demand for a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in the western part of the state, at Sambalpur. The Bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka, also recommended that the Bar Council take "appropriate action" against the district bar associations whose members have been involved in the protests.

Case : Common Cause vs Abhijat and Ors. - CONMT. PET. (C) No. 550/2015 in W. P. (C) No. 821/1990

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