Prashant Bhushan faces Bar council proceedings for professional misconduct

CHENNAI: Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, held guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court on and awarded Re 1 as fine on August 31, now faces Bar Council of India’s disciplinary proceedings for ‘professional misconduct.’
The Bar Council of India has directed the Delhi Bar Council, where he is enrolled as an advocate to examine the issue and proceed as per law. The issue should be decided as expeditiously as possible, said a resolution adopted by the general council of the BCI on Thursday.
The BCI meeting through video conferencing, chaired by vice-chairman Satish A Deshmukh, referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment against Prashant Bhushan following the suo motu contempt proceedings. The BCI discussed and deliberated upon the judgment dated August 14 and 31, 2020 holding Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt of court.
“The council is of the view that the tweets and statements made by Shri Prashant Bhushan, advocate, and the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India needs thorough study and examination by the Bar Council in the light of the statutory duties, powers and functions conferred on it under the Advocates’ Act, 1961 and the rules framed thereunder, particularly, Section-24A and Section-35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Chapter-II, Part-VI of Bar Council of India Rules.”
While Section 24A speaks of disqualification for enrolment, Section 35 is about the council’s power to initiate disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct.