Show Cause notice issued to SCBA President Dushyant Dave and other office bearers by Bar Council of India

In the latest turn of events, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued show cause notices to Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Dushyant Dave, Acting Secretary Rohit Pandey and Executive Committee Member Ms. Ritu Bharadwaj as to why disciplinary action may not be taken against them.

On May 12, the SCBA wrote a letter to BCI Secretary stating that the BCI had no right to exercise control over SCBA or any Bar Association in the country. The letter also termed the BCI move of staying the resolution of suspending Ashok Arora as “illegal, unauthorized and without jurisdiction.”

The BCI is of the view that the above mentioned three individuals of the SCBA committed acts of misconduct punishable under Sections 35 and 36 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

The BCI in its resolution claims that it can exercise powers over the SCBA and has substantiated its claim relying on the directions from the Supreme Court. It has also been alleged that appointment of Mr. Rohit Pandey as SCBA’s Acting Secretary is grossly unlawful and the BCI has urged the General Body of the SCBA to look into it. It may be recalled that the conflicts and the bitter disagreements originated after Ashok Arora called an extraordinary meeting to remove Dushyant Dave as SCBA President over a resolution passed by SCBA in February condemning the public comments made by Justice Arun Mishra praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.