HCs can debar lawyer from practicing for contemptuous acts: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today said High Courts have a right to debar an advocate from practicing in the court of their jurisdiction if their behaviour was found to be contemptuous.

"Every court has a right to debar a person from practicing in its court if he is involved in contemptuous act," a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said refusing the plea by an advocate from Jharkhand to stay the order of the High Court in this regard.

"If contemptuous behaviour is there in the court we will not allow anybody to appear in the court," the Bench said.
The Jharkhand High Court has debarred advocate K K Jha alias Kamal from practicing in the High Court after holding him guilty of engaging in contemptuous act.

"The court can say it does not want such type of advocate to appear before it," the Bench said refusing to accept his submission that the licence to practice was granted by Bar Council of India (BCI).

"BCI only gives licence to practice but if you behave in a contemptuous manner the High Court has right to debar you from appearing before it," the Bench, also comprising Justice P Sathasivam, said.

Jha failed to gain the sympathy of the Bench that all along he has been practicing in the Jharkhand High Court and the order prohibiting him to appear before it was affecting his livelihood.