The Madras High Court has instructed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to appoint an election commissioner to ensure a peaceful conduct of the Egmore Court Advocates Association election. The court has further instructed that the results shall either be declared on or before August 30th.
The Division Bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan has instructed the State Bar Council to appoint an Election Commissioner along with necessary officers to facilitate the conduct of elections for the Egmore Court Advocates Association (ECAA), adhering to its approved bylaws. The Court stressed the Bar Council’s duty to oversee orderly elections within recognized bar associations and cautioned that advocates involved in disorderly or unlawful conduct during the elections could face disciplinary measures.
The division bench held that if any members of the bar association engage in unruly behavior or participate in unlawful activities during the election process, the Bar Council is obligated to take prompt disciplinary action against those individuals.
The bench highlighted that bar associations have an equal responsibility to maintain decorum and integrity when the judicial administration offers free accommodation and other infrastructure facilities to allow bar associations to practice law peacefully. This responsibility extends to their conduct both within and outside court premises while practicing the legal profession.
