Chennai: Twelve of the 14 suspended Madurai lawyers on Sunday appeared before the specially appointed disciplinary committee constituted by TN and Puduchrry Bar Council to go into the alleged misconduct of the lawyers. Suspended by the Bar Council of India for misconduct, the 14 lawyers are also facing contempt proceedings in the Madras High Court.
P. Dharmarajan and A.K Ramasamy, through their counsels, made separate representations justifying their absence. While Dharmarajan cited overseas travel, Ramasamy attributed his absence to ill-health.
The Bar Council of India had initially issued orders that Karnataka lawyers would form a disciplinary committee to decide upon the disciplinary action to be taken against the alleged errant lawyers by holding a hearing in Bengaluru. However, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council chairman D. Selvam wrote to the Bar requesting for a Tamil Nadu committee to handle the investigation, to which the all India body council agreed.
Accordingly, the committee constituted by Selvam served summons on September 30 to the 14 lawyers to appear in person for Sunday’s hearing.
At the meeting, the lawyers argued that the suspension was illegal and asked for a copy of all documents presented against them. Paul Kanagaraj, counsel for P. Dharmarajan, said the disciplinary committee had agreed to provide the documents on Wednesday.
However, an official release said the documents would be provided to the alleged contemners on Monday. The next hearing would be on Oct. 11.
