"She has not done anything wrong", BCI recalls notice to Suhasini Sen over illegal advertisement on 'Top Lawyers of Supreme Court' website

The Bar Council of India (BCI) today recalled and withdrew the show-cause notice issued to lawyer Suhasini Sen, in connection with the illegal advertisements on the website https://toplawyersofsupremecourtofindia.com..The "Top Lawyers of Supreme Court Of Supreme Court of India" website had categorised many lawyers practising in Delhi into three categories, including a category for "good junior lawyers.".The BCI was of the opinion that the website was in clear violation of Rule 36, Chapter II, Part VI, Section IV of the Bar Council of India Rules which prohibited advertisement of the professional activities and accomplishments of advocates. .It had thus issued notice to two lawyers i.e. Advocates Raahul Trivedi and Suhasini Sen, who prima facie appeared to be responsible for the creation of the website. .In her reply to the show cause notice, Advocate Suhasini Sen stated that she had absolutely no connection with the website and that, in fact, she had sent a notice to the creator of the website, Advocate Raahul Trivedi, to remove her name. .The BCI also took note of Sen's clarification on her innocence on electronic media and remarked that her "language has been very decent and her conduct deserved appreciation too". ."I have absolutely nothing to do with it", Suhasini Sen on BCI notice over illegal advertisement on 'Top Lawyers of Supreme Court' website.After looking the issue afresh, the BCI opined,."(BCI) is satisfied that she was not aware of any such website and of her profile being posted on such website, as her profile details published therein, was also available on common domain on internet, as explained by her, and, thus, the Council is of the opinion that Ms Suhasini Sen, Advocate has no role in the creation/publication/promotion of the offending website and/or of profile being published therein."BCI.While withdrawing the show cause qua Sen, BCI added, ."The explanation of Ms Suhasini Sen, Advocate and her innocence is fully proven and accepted by the Council. Ms Suhasini has not done anything wrong"..The BCI, however, took strong objection to Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan's post on an electronic media platform on the issuance of the show cause notice to Sen..In his statement posted on LinkedIn, Sankaranarayanan had remarked that BCI had "thrown all principles of law out of the window" when it decided to issue show cause to Sen. .Considering the "reaction, the tone and tenor of the language used by" Sankarnarayanan, BCI stated, ."Mr Gopal Sankarnarayanan, Senior Advocate was in no way concerned with the issue. However, the language used by him against his own institution cannot be said to be befitting of a Senior Advocate and a gentleman, which is the requirement of this noble profession."BCI.In its Press Release, BCI has also clarified that show cause notice qua Advocate Raahul Trivedi was still valid. .Read the BCI Press Release: