“Is BCI Even Effective?” Supreme Court Questions Bar Council’s Disciplinary Mechanism

The Supreme Court questioned the effectiveness of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and State Bar Councils while hearing a plea challenging the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) caution list that allegedly blacklisted a lawyer without prior hearing.

The Court expressed concern over delays in disciplinary proceedings against advocates and asked whether regulatory bodies were efficiently addressing professional misconduct.

The case involves a lawyer whose empanelment with multiple banks was terminated after his name appeared on the IBA caution list over alleged fraud.

The petitioner argued that only the BCI has statutory authority to discipline advocates and that blacklisting without due process violated his fundamental right to practise law.

[Ajay Vijh v. Indian Banks Association]