Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana suspends license of High Court Bar President Vikas Malik

Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana's Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday suspended the license of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (HCBA) President Vikas Malik for allegedly assaulting a lawyer and removing the DVR of the CCTV cameras installed at the HCBA office. .The Committee headed by Chairman Karanjit Singh and comprising Member Rajat Gautam and Co-opted Member Ravish Kaushik debarred Malik from practicing in any court of law till a final decision is taken on the complaints pending against him.It reasoned that Malik has time and again tried to interfere with the administration of justice and has "brought a stigma" upon the noble and prestigious post of HCBA President and lowered the dignity of the one of the best High Courts in the country. "In the light of above mentioned compelling circumstances, we deem it appropriate that his licence should be suspended till the final decision of the present complaint so that apprehension of destruction of the evidence and influence of witnesses can be avoided," it said in the order..Malik had recently temporarily stepped down from the post of HCBA President after the High Court directed the Bar Council to look into sexual harassment allegations against him.Malik was also booked by Chandigarh Police on July 01 under various provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly assaulting another lawyer, advocate Ranjeet Singh, in the HCBA office at the High Court premises.Singh had gone to serve a dasti notice issued by the High Court to Malik in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against him by certain advocates alleging misappropriation of HCBA funds by him and others when he was allegedly assaulted..The Bar Council today decided to suspend Malik's license after receiving a complaint that he had removed the DDR of the CCTV Cameras installed in the premises of the HCBA office to "destroy/sabotage" the evidence with regard to the recent FIR against him.It was also alleged that two lawyers at the behest of Malik had visited the house of complainants and threatened them. However, the counsel representing Malik denied the allegations. Acting HCBA President Jasdev Singh Brar informed the Committee that when the hard disk of CCTV camera was found missing, the Police and Bar Council was immediately informed..The Committee said it was perturbed by the incidents."We are conscious of the fact that FIR is just a step to commence the investigation qua the allegations levelled but this illegal act of removal of hard clearly shows that intention and attempt on the part of [Malik] to destroy the evidence," it added. Observing that the Bar Council is expected to uphold the dignity of the lawyers' profession, the Committee said,"Looking at the preamble it is clear that an advocate is expected to behave gracefully like a gentleman towards the court, client, colleagues and to the society at large. In the present case respondent no.1 is not only an advocate but also elected leader of the Advocates of the prestigious High Court Bar Association and therefore, it is the bounden duty as well as additional responsibility to act in such a manner which does not demean the institution and legal fraternity"..The matter will be heard again on July 11.