The government wants advocates debarred from practice, for committing “moral turpitude” offences, according to its prayer to the Supreme Court, reported DNA.
The Government of India asked the Supreme Court to rule that offence of the nature of moral turpitude by a lawyer will result in debarring of the errant lawyer in line with similar provisions in other professional services like charted accountants, engineers and doctors reported The Supreme Court had asked for the assistance of Attorney General’s office in a case of contempt against an advocate practicing at Uttar Pradesh.
The government filed a compilation in the consequences of contempt in professions other than law and observed that though there is a provision of debarring in other professions for the offence of contempt, the Advocates Act, 1961 has no such provision. The powers of bar council are limited to offences that stand proven and the law is silent on commission of serious offences including murder, rape etc by advocates.
The government then requested tp the Supreme Court to make rules in this regard under Section 24 of the act to fill the lacunae. It said, “Every high court in India under section 34 (1) of Advocates Act and the Supreme Court under Article 145 of the Constitution of India has the power to frame rules with respect to the contempt of court committed by the lawyers,” it was reported.