CCI rules on advocates stayed

A division bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and R Pongiappan, on admitting a plea moved by the Tamil Nadu Advocates Association and Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, granted the interim stay.

The plea had challenged the rules notified by the commission on December 6, 2018, which stated that the advocate shall not be allowed to accompany his/her client prior to commencement of the proceedings unless a request in writing accompanied by a Vakalatnama or Power of Attorney is duly submitted to the DG.

Furthermore, the advocate was barred from sitting in front of the person so summoned and should not be at a hearing distance. According to the rules, they shall not interact, consult, confer or in any manner communicate with the person, during his/her examination on oath.