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Calcutta HC Seeks Bar Council Action Against Lawyer for Tampering
In a stern rebuke that underscores the sacredness of judicial records, the has directed the to take disciplinary action against a lawyer for allegedly tampering with a court . The Court held the counsel liable for , terming his actions a direct threat to the "discipline, dignity and sanctity" of the judiciary.
Tampering with the Court's Own Record
The controversy stems from CPAN No. 214 of 2025 , filed within WPA No. 17592 of 2022 (). During the hearing of a , the applicants were granted liberty on , to correct the name of the alleged contemnor in the of the application.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the petitioners' counsel failed to follow this simple directive. Instead of amending the , the lawyer incorporated the name of the alleged contemnor directly into the of the Court dated .
When confronted by the bench, the counsel allegedly feigned ignorance. This explanation did not sit well with Justice Suvra Ghosh , who characterized the act as a with an official court record.
"The state of affairs is extremely shocking. A learned counsel who is not able to distinguish an of the Court from the of the application is a threat to the ,"the Court observed.
Upholding the Dignity of the Institution
The Court’s ruling emphasized that the conduct of the advocate was a serious breach of professional ethics. It held that allowing such behavior to go unpunished would erode the integrity of the judicial process.
"The conduct of the learned counsel persuades this Court to hold him liable for
,"
Justice Ghosh noted.
"The matter needs to be sternly dealt with by the
."
Directions and Next Steps
To ensure accountability, the High Court issued the following directives:
- Referral to the Bar Council: The Registrar General of the was requested to take up the issue with the to initiate necessary action under the .
- Documentary Evidence: Copies of the Court’s order, the tampered , and the September 9 order were directed to be sent to the Registrar General for further procedural steps.
- Monitoring: The Registrar General was requested to keep the Court informed about the progress of the actions taken by the Bar Council.
The decision serves as a stark reminder to legal practitioners of their duty to uphold the sanctity of court records. It clarifies that the Bar Council has a statutory obligation to take a strict view of to preserve the credibility of the institution. The matter reflects the judiciary's zero-tolerance policy towards actions that compromise the integrity of its procedures.
