CJI takes tough line on lawyers involved in professional misconduct

“It is equally important to see how strict we are with those involved in professional misconduct”, TS Thakur said.

Chief Justice of India Justice T S Thakur Saturday said strict action needs to be taken against lawyers involved in professional misconduct. At a seminar on “continuing legal education and its benefits” at Jharkhand Judicial Academy, he said that while quality legal education was required, it was also important to look into how unprofessional conduct is dealt with. “We should aim to draw Asian students to Indian institutions. It is equally important to see how strict we are with those involved in professional misconduct.”

Calling for a system with no room for leniency, he said: “What do we do in such cases? Suspend them for six months or one year. We have to be ruthless. Throw them out. Don’t allow them to practice. One black sheep brings disrepute to the entire profession.”

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Advocating the need for regulated entry into the profession, he said: “There could be around 20 million lawyers in the country. The question is how many do we really need… Lack of jobs for so many people entering the profession leads to malpractice. Some try to sustain themselves as oath commissioners or notaries. Others indulge in brokering and other malpractices.,” he said.

In a lighter vein, he said: “Engineers, doctors and IAS officers have demand in the marriage market because it is not easy to enter these professions. But anyone can become a lawyer. Hence, they don’t have good prospects.”