After Orissa HC bar association suspends lawyer, SC puts stay

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today put a stay on the decision of the Orissa High Court Bar Association to suspend senior lawyer Shib Shankar Mishra while hearing the case pertaining to lawyers’ cease-work strike at the HC and district courts. Also, the SC withdrew the power of the HC Bar Association to take any disciplinary action against Mishra who is representing the Orissa HC in the apex court.

A bench of Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph directed the State government to submit a report on how many days judicial work was affected at the HC and district courts due to lawyers’ agitation in 2018 and 2019.

Based on the suggestions of Attorney General KK Venugopal, who was present during the hearing, the bench summoned chairpersons of Odisha Bar Council and Odisha HC Bar Association to appear personally before the court during next hearing posted on November 8. The SC directed the duo to apprise the apex court the reasons behind the lawyers’ strike.

The chairperson of the Bar Council of India has been also summoned by the SC to be present in the court during the next hearing.

As the Odisha government apprised the SC that it is fully capable to provide security to lawyers and litigants in High court and district courts, the apex court observed there is no need for deployment of paramilitary forces in the HC at this stage.