BCI to protect dignity of legal profession; Show cause issued to ML Sharma, AP Singh over “India’s Daughter” interview

The Bar Council of India has issued show cause notices to lawyers ML Sharma and AP Singh over their remarks in the recently released (and banned) documentary on the Delhi gang rape case. The documentary “India’s Daughter” included interviews of both Sharma and Singh, defence counsels of the convicted..At an emergency meeting held late last night, the BCI passed a resolution to issue the show cause notices in order to protect the “dignity and standard” of the legal profession...Speaking to Bar & Bench, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said: “We also have received several oral complaints from women organization as well as from Senior Advocates including Raju Ramachandran..We have issued the show cause notices to both ML Sharma and AP Singh for their alleged remarks made in the documentary.”.The BCI resolution states,.“Here is an important matter concerning the dignity and standard of the legal profession of the country. The Committee decided to act under Section 7 of the Advocates Act and without initiating disciplinary proceedings the Council has to ascertain from the various complaints as to what step could be taken in this matter. The Council and Executive Committee are not supposed to sit idle, waiting for cognizance to be taken by any State Bar Council or wait for some formal complaint. ….Under the circumstances, after thorough consideration and discussion, the Committee resolves to issue notice to ML Sharma and AP Singh to show cause why necessary disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them”..In its notice, the BCI has given three weeks’ time to the two lawyers to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for their remarks..The BCI has also formed a sub-committee including BCI members Bhoj Chander Thakur, Nilesh Kimar and Devi Prasad Dhal, which shall examine the statements of the two lawyers and their replies to the show cause notice and will submit its report..ML Sharma told Bar & Bench that he was yet to receive any notice from the BCI. He also said that since the documentary was banned in India, viewing the documentary in India was tantamount to contempt of court that people have downloaded its contents..He also said, “I have been quoted out of context in the documentary.”