Bar Council polls: Candidates rapped for doling out inducements

A division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice R Tharani on Friday said, “It is an extraordinary situation that the justice delivery system depends upon lawyers, who are the officers of court and consequently, if the Bar Council which controls the legal profession is occupied by persons with criminal background, definitely it will play havoc with the justice delivery system. This court cannot be a mute spectator to the aforesaid extraordinary situation.” 

Also, noting that since there is likelihood of violence, rigging and purchase of votes, the bench on offering directions to BCI, returning officer, Director General of Police also suo motu impleaded the Principal Director (Investigation), Income Tax Department, into the case. The directions of the bench had come forth on a plea, which sought to add conditions for fixing eligibility to contest the election and aspects like disclosing the movable and immovable assets in the name of the advocate and his family. The plea had also sought to go into the advocates/ applicants’ criminal antecedents before finalising the nomination papers and constitute a flying squad in each district to curb illegalities during the election. 

Expressing shock in its order that many members of the legal profession, who are supposed to be learned and noble, are subjecting themselves to be sold for money, liquor and foreign tours, the bench also recorded the submission of the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu and Ex-Officio Chairman of Bar Council in his letter to BCI on January 24, of the pathetic conditions under which the election is held and the reports sent by advocates from all over the state. The report stated that the going rate for a single vote in the ensuing council election is Rs 30,000, some of the candidates are indulging in bulk purchase of votes. 

A candidate, who is a former council member, is organising a holiday to Pattaya in Thailand for a number of association leaders, another candidate is planning to distribute about 600 motorcycles, some have hired beach houses for throwing parties and after the 25 members are elected, for the high stake election to the post of chairman and BCI representative, the going rate is a Toyota Innova car. However, the bench on offering a slew of regulations to conduct the election posted the matter to March 2 for compliance.