The Bombay High Court recently ordered that one of the complaints filed against advocate Gunratan Sadavarte be dismissed by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG).
The BCMG was criticized by a division bench of Justice GS Patel and Justice Neela Gokhale for even considering the complaint filed by activist Nitin Sanjay Yadav.
Referring to a video on social media platforms, one of the charges in the complaint was that Sadavarte’s underaged daughter was driving a car without a license, with Sadavarte inside the car.
The bench was appalled by the seriousness of the accusations being considered by BCMG, and it directed them to ensure that the complaint by Yadav is dismissed without requiring Sadavarte’s physical presence.
“The Bar Council believes such claims are serious, but we do not. If this is not stopped in its trap by May 18, we will stop it, and then we will have something to say. We shall not subject him (Sadavarte) to such humiliation. You shall on your own dismiss it whether the complaint shows or not,” the bench instructed.
But, in another complaint, the Court did not grant similar relief.
Sushil Manchekar, former president of the Pimpri Court Bar Association, filed the case against Sadavarte. He claimed that the lawyer wore a tattered black coat with bands to public events, including an agitation by (MSRTC) personnel, in contravention of Bar Council of India Guidelines (BCI).
Advocate Sadavarte was also accused of making “obnoxious” comments in order to deliberately mislead demonstrators, ending in their suicide.
Sadavarte was also ordered by the High Court to produce a response to the allegation and appear before the committee to present his case.
The division bench further instructed the State Bar Council to not continue on this case till further instructions.
It also directed Advocate Sadavarte, who was appearing in person, to appoint a counsel to ensure that arguments are submitted dispassionately.
“We shall urge you seek a counsel in this. It is critical that you debate the issue objectively. There is an English proverb that says, “A guy who is his own lawyer (has a fool for a client)…” You know the rest.”
The bench scheduled the matter for further hearing on March 23 to give Sadavarte time to hire a lawyer.
