Bar Council of India Directs Odisha Lawyers To Withdraw Agitation

New Delhi: Taking a strong note of disruption in judicial work due to strikes by lawyers of Odisha, the Bar Council of India (BCI) through a resolution today, directed the lawyers of Odisha to end their agitation.

BCI sent notices to the Presidents and Secretaries of no less than 68 bar associations in Odisha including the Orissa High Court Bar Association stating, “The Hon’ble Apex Court has taken a very serious view on the abstention/boycott of courts by the Bar Associations of the State of Odisha.”

The Bar Council of India resolved to issue a direction to the High Court Bar Association and the other concerned Bar Associations of the State of Odisha to immediately call off the agitation and resume court work.

In the resolution which can effectively bar the defecting lawyers from the council, the BCI said, “In case the State Bar Council or any other Bar Association or office bearer fails to comply with these directions, the appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken. If the guilt is proved, this council may disqualify such advocates/leaders of the Bar from contesting any election of the Bar in future and may dislodge them from their offices.”

It may be noted that, taking cognizance of the ongoing lawyers’ stir in Odisha, the apex court specifically desired from the Bar Council of India to inform the court as to what steps could be taken in respect of the conduct of the advocates in Odisha who had violated the directions of the Supreme Court.