58 58 Chandra Shekhar Soni vs Bar Council of Rajasthan

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before:- A.P.Sen : E.S.Venkataramia : R.B.Mi!ra :"" Can#ra Sekar Soni Ver!$! Bar Co$n%i& of Ra'a!tan

Ca!e No. : ()* of +,

Date of De%i!ion : (--+,*/ A%t!referre#: A#0o%ate! A%t1S./) A#0o%ate! A%t1S./* Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia R$&e!1R.// HEADNOTE : ADVOCATES ACT1 +,2+ Se%t Se%tio ion n /)-/)--Mo Mone ne3 3 take taken n 43 &a53 &a53er er for for 6i0i 6i0in6 n6 4ri4 4ri4ee--A -Amo mo$n $nt! t! to re7reen!i4&e %on#$%t.  Te State Bar Co$n%i& o5e0er fo$n# te a77e&&ant 6$i&t3 of te !e%on# %ar6e 0. tat e a# 7ro%$re# te 4rief of te %om7&ainant in anoter %a!e on a fee of R!. / on te re7re!entation tat e 5o$&# !e%$re a fa0o$ra4&e re7ort from te Ra#io&o6i!t !o5in6 tat tere 5a! a fra%t$re of te !k$&&. Te a77e&&ant 5a! 6$i&t3 of re7reen!i4&e %on#$%t. Se%tion Se%tion /)--8r /)--8ra0e a0e 7rofe!! 7rofe!!ion ion mi!%on mi!%on#$% #$%t--A t--A%%e %%e7t 7tan%e an%e of mone3 mone3 from from %&ient for 6i0in6 4ri4e--P$ni!ment for.  Te 7$ni!ment of !$!7en!ion from 7ra%ti%e for a 7erio# of tree 3ear! to a '$nior mem4er of te 4ar &ike te a77e&&ant i! rater !e0ere. Te &a7!e on te 7art of te a77e&&ant 5a! 7era7! #$e to te fa%t tat in te !tr$66&e for e9i!ten%e e a# to re!ort to !$% ma&7ra%ti%e!. It i! !tron6&3  #e7re%ate#1 4$t a &enient 0ie5 if taken 4e%a$!e e 5a! an ine97erien%e# mem4er of te 4ar1 an# te fa%t tat te in%i#ent took 7&a%e in +,+. In a&& fa%t! an# %ir%$m!tan%e! of te %a!e1 to meet en#! of '$!ti%e 7erio# of  !$!7en!ion from tree 3ear! i! re#$%e# to one 3ear. Se%tion Se%tion /*--A77ea& /*--A77ea& to S$7reme S$7reme Co$rt--S%o7 Co$rt--S%o7e--Con e--Con%$rren %$rrentt fin#in6! fin#in6! of  fa%t! fa%t!--T --Te e !%o7 !%o7e e for for inte interf rfer eren% en%e e i! 0er3 0er3 &imi &imite te#. #.In In an a77e a77ea& a& $n#er $n#er Se%tion /* of te A#0o%ate! A%t1 +,2+1 te S$7reme Co$rt 5o$&# not1 a! a 6enera& r$&e1 interfere 5it te %on%$rrent fin#in6! of fa%t 6i0en 43 te

Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia an# of te State Bar Co$n%i& $n&e!! te fin#in6 i! 4a!e# on no e0i#en%e or it 7ro%ee#! on mere %on'e%t$re! an# $n5arrante# inferen%e!. Ti! i! not te %a!e ere.  Te fa%t! an# %ir%$m!tan%e! of te %a!e1 no oter %on%&$!ion i! 7o!!i4&e tan one rea%e# 43 a$toritie! 4e&o5. Tere i! terefore no 6ro$n# for interferen%e 5it te fin#in6 of te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia. BAR COUNCI OF INDIA RUES1 +,) R$&e //--Ha0in6 retaine# for %om7&ainant a%%e7te# 4rief for te a%%$!e# a! 5e&&--Amo$nt! to 7rofe!!iona& mi!%on#$%t. It i! not in a%%or#an%e 5it 7rofe!!iona& eti;$ette for an a#0o%ate 5i&e retaine# 43 one 7art3 to a%%e7t te 4rief of te oter. It i! $n7rofe!!iona& to re7re!ent %onf&i%tin6 intere!t! e9%e7t 43 e97re!! %on!ent 6i0en 43 a&& %on%erne# after a f$&& #i!%&o!$re of te fa%t!. Te a77e&&ant 5o$&# not a0e a77eare# for te oter !i#e e9%e7t 5it te 7ermi!!ion of te &earne# Ma6i!trate.  Ti! a77ea& $n#er S. /* of te A#0o%ate! A%t. +,2+ i! #ire%te# a6ain!t an or#er of te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia #ate#  "an$ar3 1 +, $7o&#in6 te or#er of te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of  te State Bar Co$n%i& of Ra'a!tan "o#7$r #ate# "$&3 (+1 +,< 43  5i% te a77e&&ant a! 4een e&# 6$i&t3 of 7rofe!!iona& mi!%on#$%t an# !$!7en#e# from 7ra%ti%e for a 7erio# of tree 3ear! $n#er S. /) =%> of te A%t. (. Notin6 !o$&# 4e #one 43 an3 mem4er of te &e6a& fraternit3 5i% mi6t ten# to &e!!en in an3 #e6ree te %onfi#en%e of te 7$4&i% in te fi#e&it31 one!t3 an# inte6rit3 of te 7rofe!!ion. Te State Bar Co$n%i& 6a0e te a77e&&ant te 4enefit of #o$4t on te fir!t %ar6e tat te %an6e# !i#e! in a %rimina& %a!e1 o&#in6 tat to$6 !$% %on#$%t on i! 7art 5a! $n7rofe!!iona& it 5a! not tantamo$nt to 7rofe!!iona& mi!%on#$%t. Te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia ri6t&3 o4!er0e! tat it fai&e# to a77re%iate te #i!tin%tion #ra5n 43 te State Bar Co$n%i& a! i! a%t in a%%e7tin6 te 4rief for te a%%$!e# after a0in6 a77eare# for te %om7&ainant 5a! %&ear&3 %ontrar3 to R. // of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia R$&e! +,/). ?e %on%$r 5it te Di!%i7&inar3  Committee. It i! not in a%%or#an%e 5it 7rofe!!iona& eti;$ette for an a#0o%ate 5i&e retaine# 43 one 7art3 to a%%e7t te 4rief of te oter. It i! $n7rofe!!iona& to re7re!ent %onf&i%tin6 intere!t! e9%e7t 43 e97re!!. %on!ent 6i0en 43 a&& %on%erne# after a f$&& #i!%&o!$re of fa%t!. Te a77e&&ant 5o$&# not a0e 7eare# for te oter !i#e e9%e7t 5it te 7ermi!!ion of te &earne# Ma6i!trate. Co$n!e&@! 7aramo$nt #$t3 i! to te %&ient1 an# 5ere e fin#! tat tere i! %onf&i%t of intere!t!1 e !o$&# refrain from #oin6 an3tin6 5i% 5o$&# arm an3 intere!t of i! %&ient A &a53er 5en entr$!te# 5it a 4rief i! e97e%te# to fo&&o5 te norm! of  7rofe!!iona& eti%! an# tr3 to 7rote%t te intere!t! of i! %&ient in re&ation

to 5om e o%%$7ie! a 7o!ition of tr$!t. Te State Bar Co$n%i& o5e0er fo$n# te a77e&&ant 6$i&t3 of te !e%on# %ar6e 0i. tat e a# 7ro%$re# te 4rief of te %om7&ainant in anoter %a!e on a fee of R!. / on te re7re!entation tat e 5o$&# !e%$re a fa0o$ra4&e re7ort from te Ra#io&o6i!t !o5in6 tat tere 5a! a fra%t$re of te !k$&&. Te a77e&&ant 5a! 6$i&t3 of re7reen!i4&e %on#$%t. Te Pream4&e to Ca7ter II Part VI of te R$&e! &a3! #o5n tat an a#0o%ate !a&& at a&& time! %om7ort im!e&f in a manner 4efittin6 i! !tat$! a! an offi%er of te Co$rt. 7ri0i&e6e# mem4er of te %omm$nit3 an# a 6ent&eman. R. < of ti! Ca7ter 7ro0i#e! tat an a#0o%ate !a&& $!e i! 4e!t effort to re!train an# 7re0ent i! %&ient from re!ortin6 to !am an# $nfair 7ra%ti%e! et%.  Tere i! a &on6 %atena of #e%i!ion! &a3in6 #o5n tat offerin6 of 4ri4e or 6i0in6 4ri4e or takin6 mone3 from te %&ient for te 7$r7o!e of 6i0in6 4ri4e amo$nt! 6ra0e 7rofe!!iona& mi!%on#$%t. /. It a77ear! tat te %om7&ainant Bani3a an# i! 5ife Smt. 8a&ki 5ere a!!a$&te# a! a re!$&t of 5i% te3 re%ei0e# ea# in'$rie!. Bot of tem 5ere e9amine# 43 Dr. Raman Varma an# e referre# tem to a Ra#io&o6i!t. Dr. Man6a& Sarma. Ra#io&o6i!t !ent a re7ort to te Station Ho$!e Offi%er tat e fo$n# notin6 a4norma& in te -ra3 7&ate of te %om7&ainant Bani3a 4$t from te -ra3 P&ate of Smt. 8a&ki e !$!7e%te# a fra%t$re of te !k$&& an# !$66e!te# tat e !o$&# refer te matter to a S7e%ia&i!t. Te a77e&&ant a77roa%e# te %om7&ainant 5it te -ra3 7&ate! taken 43 Dr. Sarma an# 7romi!e# to 6et a fa0o$ra4&e re7ort e 5a! en6a6e# a! a %o$n!e& an# !ai# tat R!. / a# to 4e 7ai# to Dr. Sarma. Te a77e&&ant ten !ent te %om7&ainant a&on6 5it a &etter to Dr. Sarma to te effe%t : Dear Do%tor Sai41 I am !en#in6 te man to o$ 5it  ra3 P&ate. o$r amo$nt i! &3in6 5it me. I 5i&& %ome to "a&ore in te e0enin6 an# !ee o$. P&ea!e #o i! 5ork an# it !o$&# 4e #one 7o!iti0e&3 in i! fa0o$r. S# Can#er Sekar Soni. <. Dr. Man6a& Sarma !ent anoter te Station Ho$!e Offi%er !a3in6 Tere i! e0i#en%e of fra%t$re of te !k$&&. ). It i! not in %ontro0er!3 tat te a77e&&ant 5rote te &etter 4$t e 7$t for5ar# a fa&!e 7&ea 5i% e a! fai&e# to te a# !$4!tantiate. He 7&ea#e# te !ent te &etter to one Dr. S$rin#er Sin6 o#a. Homeo7at an# a&!o E#itor of a ne5!7a7er "an Praari for 7$4&i%ation of an

a#0erti!ement. He trie# to !$4!tantiate i! 7&ea 43 e9aminin6 Dr S$rin#er Sin6 o#a an# me Mai7a& $mar tro$6 5om e i! !$77o!e# to a0e !ent te &etter. Te a77e&&ant in i! !tatement !tate# 5en %onfronte# 5it te &etter tat te 5or#! I am !en#in6 te man to  3o$ 5it -ra3 7&ate re&ate to te -ra3 7&ate !ent 43 im to Dr. o#a: te 5or#! o$r amo$nt i! &3in6 5it me re&ate to R!. ( 6i0en to Mai7a& for 4ein6 an#e# o0er to Dr. o#a for te 7rintin6 of te a#0erti!ement an# te 5or#! P&ea!e #o i! 5ork an# it !o$&# 4e #one 7o!iti0e&3 in i! fa0o$r re&ate to te 7$4&i%ation of te a#0erti!ement a! #e!ire# 43 Mai7a&. Te #efen%e 7&ea 5a! tat Dr. o#a a# taken te -ra3 7&ate of one of i! re&ation! 5o 5a! !$fferin6 from t$4er%$&o!i!.  Te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia a! $7on e&# te fin#in6 of te State Bar Co$n%i& #i!4e&ie0in6 te #efen%e 0er!ion. Te e97&anation of Mai7a& i! tat e a# &o!t te &etter. On te %ontrar3 te 0er!ion of te %om7&ainant i! tat e a# taken te &etter to Dr. Sarma 5o after rea#in6 it ret$rne# te !ame to im. Te fa%t remain! tat te in%riminatin6 &etter a! 4een 7ro#$%e# 43 te %om7&ainant. Ti! %om7&ete&3 fa&!ifie! te 7&ea taken 43 te a77e&&ant in i! #efen%e tat te &etter 5a! meant for 7$4&i%ation of an a#0erti!ement in te ne5!7a7er. A#mitte#&31 no !$% a#0erti!ement 5a! e 0er 7$4&i!e#. 2. In an a77ea& $n#er S. /* of A%t ti! Co$rt 5o$&# not a! a6enera& r$&e interfere 5it te %on%$rrent fin#in6 of fa%t 6i0en 43 te Di!%i7&inar3  Committee of te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia an# of te State Bar Co$n%i& $n&e!! te fin#in6 i! 4a!e# on no e0i#en%e or it 7ro%ee#! on mere %on'e%t$re! an# $n5arrante# inferen%e!. Ti! i! not te %a!e ere. In te fa%t! an# %ir%$m!tan%e! of te %am 5e are !ati!fie# tat no oter %on%&$!ion i! Po!!i4&e tan te one rea%e#. Tere i! terefore no 6ro$n# for interferen%e 5it te fin#in6 of te Di!%i7&inar3 Committee of  te Bar Co$n%i& of In#ia. . It i! nee#&e!! to !tre!! tat in a %a!e &ike ti! te 7$ni!ment a! to 4e #eterrent. Tere 5a! in ti! %a!e %om7&ate &a%k of %an#o$r on te 7art of te a77e&&ant in tat e a franti% effort to !a0e im!e&f. 7ro%$re# fa&!e e0i#en%e. Te e0i#en%e on re%or# %&ear&3 !o5! tat te a77e&&ant a# taken mone3 to 7a3 an# 4ri4e to te Ra#io&o6i!t. In a %a!e of !$% 6ra0e 7rofe!!iona& mi!%on#$%t1 te State Bar Co$n%i& o4!er0e! tat !$% 7ra%ti%e! a#o7te# 43 te mem4er! of te 4ar 4rin6 te 5o&e &e6a& Profe!!ion into #i!re7$te an# a%%or#in6&3 #ire%te# tat te a77e&&ant 4e !$!7en#e# from 7ra%ti%e1 for a 7erio# of tree 3ear!. Te Di!%i7&inar3  Committee a! $7e&# te !enten%e !a3in6 tat te 7ena&t3 im7o!e# #oe! not a77ear to 4e e9%e!!i0e an# re'e%te# te 7&ea of mer%3  o4!er0in6 : It i! tr$e tat te a77e&&ant 5a! mere '$nior at te 4ar an# not m$%

e97erien%e# 5en te in%i#ent i! !ai# to a0e taken 7&a%e. Te tem7tation for mone3 at tat !ta6e i! of %o$r!e 0er3 6reat 4$t at te !ame time it i! to 4e rea&i!e# 43 te a77e&&ant tat e 4e&on6! to a no4&e 7rofe!!ion 5i% a! 0er3 i6 tra#ition! an# to!e tra#ition! are not 4e !$&&ie# 43 ma&7ra%ti%e! of ti! nat$re. A%%or#in6&3 it #e%&ine# to interfere 5it te 7$ni!ment. ?e o5e0er fee& tat te 7$ni!ment of !$!7en!ion from 7ra%ti%e for a 7erio# of tree  3ear! to a '$nior mem4er of te 4ar &ike te a77e&&ant i! rater !e0ere.  Te &a7!e on te 7art of te a77e&&ant 5a! 7era7! #$e to te fa%t tat in te !tr$66&e for e9i!ten%e e a# to re!ort to !$% ma& 7ra%ti%e!. ?e !tron6&3 #e7re%ate te %on#$%t of te a77e&&ant 4$t take a &enient 0ie5 4e%a$!e e 5a! an ine97erien%e# mem4er of 4ar an# te fa%t tat te in%i#ent! took 7&a%e in +,+. In a&& fa%t! an# %ir%$m!tan%e! of te %a!e1 5e fee& it 5o$&# meet te en#! of '$!ti%e if 5e re#$%e te 7erio# of  !$!7en!ion from tree 3ear! to one 3ear. ?e or#er a%%or#in6&3. *. S$4'e%t to ti! mo#ifi%ation te a77ea& i! #i!mi!!e# 5it no or#er! a! to %o!t!. Or#er! a%%or#in6&3.