In a bid to remove unholy and unethical practices in the profession of law, Chief Justice of India Justice TS Thakur on Saturday asked lawyer’s fraternity to take stern action against those involved in such conducts. Justice Thakur, while speaking in a seminar on ‘Continuing legal Education and Its Benefits’ at Judicial Academy in Ranchi also appealed the young lawyers to remain fully updated through constant education and training as several multi-national legal firms are eying on the Country to get entry.
“There needs to be a focused attention as far as legal profession is concerned. Though, quality legal education is important, it is equally important to see how strict the system was with those involved in unprofessional conduct,” said the CJI.
The Chief Justice said that errant people in the profession must be dealt with ruthlessly. “We have to be ruthless…throw them out…don’t allow them to practice or suspend them for six months or a year….. One black sheep brings disrepute to the entire profession.”
Appealing young lawyers to upgrade themselves, Chief Justice if India further added that efforts were being made to bring in several multinational legal firms in India following which they will simply disappear. Hence they need to upgrade themselves from time to time, he added.
Supreme Court Judge Justice AR Dave, on occasion, said that one must be a student for the whole of his life to become successful. “You must remain a student for the whole of your life as it is very easy to become a lawyer but it is really difficult to remain in the profession hence you must know what you don’t know,” said Justice Dave.
Supreme Court Judge Justice AR Sikri, however, was of the view that quality of judgment depends on the quality of arguments that takes place before the Court.
Encouraging the young lawyers who have just started their career in the profession, Jharkhand Chief Justice Virender Singh said that everybody wants to rise but it takes sometimes to raise……it’s a law of nature. He also suggested the newcomers to follow all the ethics religiously.
“Problems are bound to be there but they do not stay there for a longer Period,” said Chief Justice Singh.
Earlier, the CJI laid the foundation stone for the lawyers’ Academy – only the second in the country – at Doranda. The Academy, however, will use the Judicial Academy’s premises for various purposes, till the new building is constructed.
Eminent dignitaries including Supreme Court Judges and Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court alongwith State Bar Council officials present on the dais also released a book ‘Bar Panorama.’ Chequed of Rs 1000 each as monthly stipend for a period of three years to the new lawyers werealso distributed among the new lawyers.
Justice A K Sikri, Justice A R Dave, Justice R Banumathi and Professor N R Madhava Menon also attended the seminar, among others.