The Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of Kerala has stayed for two months, an order of the Bar Council, suspending an advocate for one year for alleged professional misconduct. The order was passed by the committee comprising chairman Sudheer Ganesh Kumar and members P Santhosh Kumar and C S Ajithan Nampoothiri. The committee passed the order on the appeal filed by Advocate V K Isaac of Kottarakkara, challenging the suspension.
The Bar Council had suspended him on the basis of a complaint filed by I Alavuddeen and Laila Beevi, of Kottarakkara.
The allegation against the lawyer was that he allegedly cheated the complainants in connection with a land deal. The advocate cheated them through unwanted monetary transactions and property transaction, misusing his profession and committed professional and other misconduct, the complainants stated.
The council had observed that a lawyer’s duty is not only to his client but also to the court and to his opponent. “Also, a lawyer is duty-bound to uphold the dignity of his legal profession through good conduct.
A lawyer is duty-bound to serve his clients and the society and public at large. Here, the advocate failed to uphold professional dignity and neglected his professional duty,” the council observed.
It had also stated that the proved misconduct was very serious in nature and has to be dealt with severely.
Moreover, the advocate is also involved in a criminal case and faces other allegations. Hence, he was found guilty of professional misconduct and is suspended for one year,” the council had stated.
However, the advocate submitted that the allegations against him were false and the order of suspension will not be sustainable.