(1) THE respondent no.1 filed a complaint against the appellant, an Advocate, who had been engaged by the complainant to argue an appeal, alleging misappropriation of property. Inter alia it was alleged that the appellant-Advocate obtained signatures of the respondent on an agreement dated 8th July, 1986 purporting to give a piece of land measuring 15 x 25 from out of 15 biswas of land in lieu of fees to the Advocate, when the fees had already been paid. In 1991, the appellantAdvocate filed a civil suit (Civil Suit No. 92/1991) for specific performance based on the agreement dated 8th July, 1986. That was when the facts came to light. The complaint before the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh was filed in 1993, but since it was not disposed of within one year, it was transferred to the Bar Council of India in 1995. The Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of India issued notice to the appellant but on the nonappearance of the appellant, heard and decided the case ex parte. Vide order dated 18th September, 1998,the Bar Council of India directed Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh to strike off the name of the appellant from the roll of Advocates maintained by them.(As a conse