CHENNAI: Even as the judiciary is taking a serious view of the unruly behaviour by a group of advocates who barged into the house of the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court recently, it has come to light that one among those arrested had been picked by the Union Government to represent it in the HC.
C P Sasikumar, who’s bail petition was dismissed by the Principal District Sessions Court on Monday, is among the 37 Central government counsel appointed by the BJP-led Union Government by an order dated March 12, 2015.
It was also learnt from police sources that Sasikumar was booked in 2013 by the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai police in a forgery and cheating case.
He was accused of trying to sell land belonging to Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) at Mogappair.
While seeking anticipatory bail in the cheating case, Sasikumar had argued in the Madras High Court that he had only given legal advice and drafted the sale deed for a professional fee.
However, the selection of a lawyer who allegedly behaved in an unruly manner at the residence of the Chief Justice, as a Central government counsel has raised concerns among a section of the advocates.
They now stress on a more robust process in the appointment of government counsels.
“The unruly behaviour by the lawyers at the house of the Chief Justice is unacceptable according to the code of conduct laid by the Bar Council. The judiciary itself has taken a serious view of it. We must have a more robust process while selecting government counsel,” said an advocate practising in the Madras High Court.
The incident which caused deep embarrassment for the legal fraternity here, took place in the wee hours of April 4, when a group of advocates barged into the residence of Chief Justice SK Kaul, seeking anticipatory bail for an advocate who apprehended arrest by the Chennai City Police.
When queried about the code of conduct for Central Government counsel, a former additional solicitor general told Express that no specific conduct rule had been laid down by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
“Only when an advocate is convicted by a court, he will be terminated. It is easy to get an FIR registered against any advocate. So, a pending criminal case alone will not be a bar.
“The selection process for the counsel involves an interview of the advocates by the Joint Secretary and only professional experience is considered. Previous criminal cases are generally not considered,” he said.