Odisha Lawyers' Strike: BCI Suspends Licenses Of 29 Protesting Lawyers Of Sambalpur For 18 Months

In a press release, the BCI noted,

"In view of the acts of vandalism indulged into by striking lawyers of Sambalpur District Bar Association (Odisha) whereby they have been seen to be indulged in shouting slogans, burning effigies of Judges and Office Bearers of Bar Council of India and State Bar Council, entering in the Court Room and damaging the computer sets and other properties inside and outside the Court Rooms and further manhandling the police officers and personnel fighting and abusing them, which conduct is grossly against professional conduct and etiquettes, the Hon'ble Chairman, Bar Council of India, has suspended 29 striking Advocates for a period of 18 months with immediate effect and has further suspended all the members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association till further orders."

While taking the extreme step, the Chairman of BCI took into account the video-clips showing vandalism by protesting lawyers. He also considered an email sent by the Odisha State Bar Council to this respect.

On Monday, the members of the District Bar Association, Sambalpur had called for a protest under the name 'Satyagraha'. Scores of lawyers backed by civilians convened a protest to put forward their long-standing demand to set-up a permanent Bench of Orissa High Court in the district and also to oppose the arbitrary actions of the Bar Council of India and the Odisha State Bar Council. Effigies of Judges were reportedly burnt as a sign of discord.

The matter was placed before a Division Bench of the Apex Court comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka on Monday, who were apprised of the prevailing tensions. They took stock of the situation through several video-clips which were placed before them.

Justice Kaul, while expressing his disappointment at the failure of the police to take action against the protesting lawyers, remarked, "Lawyers have lost their privilege. Police are expected to take action. Why are the police making polite conversations with them? Why should they not be taken into custody? If the police are not able to control it, we will send the paramilitary. Please tell us whether you are able to handle it or not. Tell us. We want action by the day after tomorrow. Is it clear? Please put it up before the state government."

The Bench has ordered the State Government and the Director General of Police, including the Police Officer In-Charge of the Sambalpur District, to be present before the court on Wednesday through video-conferencing, explaining what steps have been taken against the protesting lawyers.

The Court has also directed the Registrar General, Orissa High Court to inform as to which are the Courts in the State where work is going on smoothly. It has proposed to transfer cases from disturbed districts to the adjacent districts where work is going on.

Last month, the Supreme Court had asked the protesting lawyers to get back to work otherwise to face contempt of Court action or suspension of licenses. On the last week of last month, the Apex Court had issued a slew of directions including a direction to the Bar Council of India to suspend the licenses of protesting lawyers and to act against the office bearers of Bar Associations.

However, the lawyers were united in putting forward their issue and had threatened to surrender their licenses en masse if Bar Council suspends anyone's license.