BCI revokes suspension of Sambalpur lawyers

SAMBALPUR: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday revoked the suspension of the 54 lawyers of Sambalpur District Bar Association(SDBA). The BCI had suspended the lawyers following the violence on the premises of the Sambalpur district court on December 12 last year.
The resolution of the BCI said, "The suspension of all the 54 advocates is hereby revoked for the time being. However, the district and session judge is hereby requested to keep a strong vigil/watch over the conduct and activities of all 54 advocates and it is made clear that if any adverse report is received by the council, strong disciplinary action will be taken by the council without any further leniency. Moreover, all the 54 advocates shall furnish an undertaking to the secretary BCI that they shall not indulge in any such activities in future. Copies of such undertakings should be forwarded to the secretary, BCI, within a period of 10 days from today, through email. The council shall review the matter in the second week of May 2023."
Last year, a mob demanding establishment of a high court bench barged into the premises of the district court complex in Sambalpur and ransacked the court besides the chamber of the district judge. As many as 38 people, including 29 lawyers, were arrested in connection with the incident. The BCI also suspended 54 lawyers of the SDBA.