Referring to allegations levelled against some judges being corrupt, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Ajit Prakash Shah has said “the judges cannot be corrupt unless lawyers were so.”Addressing a function on Sunday, Justice Shah said several advocates in the Bar Council and Bar Associations got involved in gambling and even consumed alcohol in court premises. Such practices were common, especially in the Magistrate Court of several states, including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.“Many lawyers behave in a rowdy manner in the Bar Association and Bar Council. This is a disgrace and spoils the reputation of the legal profession. Time has come for the Bar Council and Bar Association to take firm action against erring advocates.” There were allegations that several judges were corrupt. The judges could not be corrupt unless lawyers were involved, the Chief Justice said.“What steps were being taken against lawyers, who indulged in corruption. The Bar Association should consider initiating action against those lawyers as this was also one of their duties,” the High Court Chief Justice added. He emphasised that the advocates should develop sharp intellectual acumen and clear presentation of cases.Giving a piece of advice to junior lawyers, he said: “You have entered the profession not to make money as this is a learned profession.” Advocates should keep the interest of clients in mind. People repose faith in their lawyers and place their property, life and honour in their hands,” he said.He called upon the junior lawyers to attend court proceedings regularly and learn about the judges. He said the Tamil Nadu government had approved a proposal of setting up Combined Court complex building in 12 districts across the state. A complex would also be set up in Cuddalore soon, he said. The Chief Justice was speaking at a felicitation function of R Radhakrishnan, a noted advocate who completed 50 years of service, in the coastal town.Justice S R Singaravelu said several lawyers of the Madurai Bench were engaged in an agitation demanding that Tamil be made a court language. “In my opinion, till the time Tamil incorporated the entire legal jargon, English should remain the court language in the state,” Singaravelu said.Justice Prabha Sridevan, Justice A Kulasekaran and Chairman of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu K Chandramohan also spoke on the occasion.
