1. Introductory:

Whether the Bar Council of a State is empowered to prohibit an Advocate from practising the profession of law, pending disposal of the disciplinary proceeding is the core issue that arises for consideration in this sub application filed in a suo motu contempt petition.

This application is at the instance of the contemnors in suo motu contempt petition No. 1834 of 2015 and the prayer is to stay the operation of the order passed by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (hereinafter referred to as "Bar Council") prohibiting the petitioners from practising the profession of law pending disposal of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against them pursuant to the direction in Crl. O.P. No. 30502 of 2014 (reported in 2015-2-L.W. (Crl.) 258).

Brief facts:

2. The petitioners filed a Criminal Original Petition in Crl. O.P. No. 30502 of 2014 before this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on behalf of their client Mrs. Lakshmi for initiating action against the District Judge, Villupuram, Public Prosecutor, the Police and land grabbers and to protect her life and property. The learned Single Judge after perusing the materials on record decid