CIC to Bar council of delhi: Publish cases of professional misconduct of Advocates
It is important to remember words of Krishna Iyer, “indeed, the monopoly conferred on the
legal profession by Parliament is coupled with a responsibility a responsibility towards the
people, especially the poor” and that responsibility has to be practically visible in functioning of
every advocate. If not people should know action against him. Right to know of the people
arises out of this responsibility of Bar Council.
16. Section 4(1)(d) of RTI Act, mandates the public authority to “provide reasons for its
administrative or quasijudicial decisions to affected persons”. Bar Council should understand
the purport of above referred judicial pronouncements is properly understood, the Bar Council
has to publish these reports because generally entire people are positively affected by the
good conduct to some extent and harmfully affected by misconduct of the advocates, and if the
Bar Council punishes them or brings out genuineness of service, it will neutralize the impact.
For that purposes it has to publish the reports of the disciplinary proceedings.
17. The Commission agrees with the justifiable contention of the appellant and directs the
Bar Council of Delhi to report/publish the cases of professional misconduct, both proved and
not proved, at regular intervals or as and when the decision was taken in compliance of
Section 4 (1) of RTI Act in their official website or journal or by any other means of publication
convenient to it. Commission also direct the PIO to furnish para wise information to the
appellant within 15 days of receipt of this Order.
CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION
Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu (Madabhushi Sridhar)
Information Commissioner
CIC/SA/A/2016/000381
Tapan Chaudhary v. Bar Council of Delhi
Decided on: 20-07-2016
https://www.lawweb.in/2016/07/cic-to-bar-council-of-delhi-publish.html