CHENNAI: The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu (BCT), which monitors professional activities of about 70,000 advocates in the state, has embarked on a digitization drive to curb the scourge of bogus certificates and misuse of BCT stickers by non-professionals.
"Documents running to several lakhs of pages are to be scanned and digitized in a tamper-proof format. The identity cards carrying the enrollment details of each advocate would be made a smart card for easy verification of credentials," said Bar Council of Tamil Nadu chairman D Selvam.
Though the Bar Council is statutorily mandated to keep a tab on the legal education and professional affairs of the entire legal fraternity in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it was never computer-savvy and most of the documents maintained by it had become fragile -- more so because it did not have a proper documentation system in place.
"Various bar councils are facing the twin problems of maintaining the available records and verifying their authenticity. Digitization will help preserve records, save space and make verification easy. The Bar Council of India has mooted the renewal of certificates of practicing advocates. It could be done once in five years," said S Prabakaran, Bar Council of India (BCI) member from Tamil Nadu.
In recent times, 38 advocates were proceeded against for having submitted bogus certificates or having used bogus enrollment certificates to practice in various mofussil courts. "Removal proceedings were initiated against four of them. Stringent action will be taken against those found misusing the profession or found flaunting advocate stickers in their vehicles," Selvam said.
"BCT has adopted a resolution and issued a circular to all the 294 bar associations in the state, directing them to caution their members that unauthorized use of advocate stickers would invite police action," said council secretary V Dakshinamoorthy. The council has devised a tamper-proof sticker. While a two-wheeler sticker would cost Rs 50, a four-wheeler sticker would cost Rs 100. Vehicles registered in the name of practicing advocates alone would be allowed, said Prabakaran.
Unruly behaviour by advocates too would invite the wrath of the Bar Council, said Selvam, pointing out that a young knife-wielding lawyer, who terrorized visitors and other lawyers at the Madras high court premises recently, has been banned from practice. "Prohibitory orders have been issued against him, and unless the order is set aside he cannot practice in any court," he said.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-bar-council-looks-at-smart-cards-to-weed-out-fake-lawyers/articleshow/9854803.cms
"Documents running to several lakhs of pages are to be scanned and digitized in a tamper-proof format. The identity cards carrying the enrollment details of each advocate would be made a smart card for easy verification of credentials," said Bar Council of Tamil Nadu chairman D Selvam.
Though the Bar Council is statutorily mandated to keep a tab on the legal education and professional affairs of the entire legal fraternity in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it was never computer-savvy and most of the documents maintained by it had become fragile -- more so because it did not have a proper documentation system in place.
"Various bar councils are facing the twin problems of maintaining the available records and verifying their authenticity. Digitization will help preserve records, save space and make verification easy. The Bar Council of India has mooted the renewal of certificates of practicing advocates. It could be done once in five years," said S Prabakaran, Bar Council of India (BCI) member from Tamil Nadu.
In recent times, 38 advocates were proceeded against for having submitted bogus certificates or having used bogus enrollment certificates to practice in various mofussil courts. "Removal proceedings were initiated against four of them. Stringent action will be taken against those found misusing the profession or found flaunting advocate stickers in their vehicles," Selvam said.
"BCT has adopted a resolution and issued a circular to all the 294 bar associations in the state, directing them to caution their members that unauthorized use of advocate stickers would invite police action," said council secretary V Dakshinamoorthy. The council has devised a tamper-proof sticker. While a two-wheeler sticker would cost Rs 50, a four-wheeler sticker would cost Rs 100. Vehicles registered in the name of practicing advocates alone would be allowed, said Prabakaran.
Unruly behaviour by advocates too would invite the wrath of the Bar Council, said Selvam, pointing out that a young knife-wielding lawyer, who terrorized visitors and other lawyers at the Madras high court premises recently, has been banned from practice. "Prohibitory orders have been issued against him, and unless the order is set aside he cannot practice in any court," he said.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-bar-council-looks-at-smart-cards-to-weed-out-fake-lawyers/articleshow/9854803.cms
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