Chennai: An advocate from the Salem bar association has approached the Madras high court to quash an order of the Special Committee of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu that has temporarily suspended him from practicing.
Justice N. Kirubakaran, before whom the petition filed by V. Madhesh came up for hearing, adjourned it to January 29 after directing the special government pleader J. Pothiraj, appearing for Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, to file a counter affidavit.
Senior counsel R. Gandhi, appearing for the petitioner, had submitted that there was absolutely no material against the petitioner and only based on a false complaint making allegations against the petitioner that the order was passed. The petitioner is a first generation lawyer. The suspension will affect his career. Based on a stage managed complaint, the ad hoc committee passed the order, he added.
SGP Pothiraj said originally the ad hoc committee had warned him and thereafter only the impugned order was passed. There was an allegation that the petitioner attempted to assault a senior lawyer, he added.
In his petition, Madhesh submitted that the election to the posts of office bearers of Salem Bar Association was notified and the members of the association had filed their nominations between December 17, 2018 and January 2. He had also filed his nomination to the post of Executive Committee Member - above 5 years.
Advocate KRR Ayyappamani had a team of advocates to contest for all the posts of office bearers. He was also very influential in the State Bar Council. Having felt that he may not be able to succeed in the election to the post of President, he wanted to stop the election and therefore had made use of the complaint of Ahmed Shajahan.
Based on the complaint, the special committee had appointed three advocates as election officers. Among the three, two have already proposed and seconded some contestants to support Ayyappamani. On coming to know of their appointment, he sought copies of documents from the three advocates. But there was no reply.
Their action paved the way for apprehension that there will not be a fair and proper election and he came down to Chennai to file a petition. On coming to know this, the Bar Council at the instance of Ayyappamani initiated disciplinary proceedings based on a complaint from M. Manisekar. However, he filed a petition in the Madras high court against the orders of the special committee. While so, the special committee passed the present order, he added.
