The licence of a Delhi lawyer accused of performing Nikahs and religious conversions in chamber has been revoked.
The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) has suspended a lawyer’s licence for allegedly using his chamber for Muslim marriage (Nikah) and religious conversions, according to the BCD Secretary on Monday. According to the BCD secretary, Piyush Gupta, the action was taken in response to a complaint that the lawyer was using his chamber to perform Nikahs.
The council has requested that the Registrar of the Delhi High Court, the District Judge in charge, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police of the affected area provide all necessary information and support to the committee.
Meanwhile, the council has asked the District Judge (in-charge) of Karkardooma Court to cancel his chamber’s allotment and, as an interim measure, to seal it in order to put an end to illegal activities.
“Considering the gravity of the issue and to uphold the dignity and honour of the legal fraternity, I deem it fit to exercise the special powers conferred under Rule 43 of the Bar Council of India Rules and Section 6 (1) (d) of the Advocates Act, 1961, while referring the issue to the Special Disciplinary Committee, and considers it necessary and appropriate to suspend his licence to practise.”
He is also directed to file his response with the Special Disciplinary Committee within seven days of receiving this Notice, and to appear in person before the committee on 16.07.2021 at 4.00 PM in the office of the Bar Council of Delhi at 1-F, Lawyers Chambers, Delhi High Court, New Delhi, failing which the Special Disciplinary Committee will proceed ex parte and take further appropriate action. The Committee will conduct an investigation and make a decision as soon as possible, ideally within three months.
According to the BCD, the alleged activities are neither permissible nor part of an advocate’s professional activities, and his conduct in performing a Nikah and issuance of the certificate of conversion and Nikahnama/ Marriage Certificate is completely disgraceful and undermines the dignity of the legal profession.
Based on the allegations in the complaint and the documents, it appears that an advocate or any other person cannot perform the Nikah in the Chamber/ Court premises, which necessitates immediate action by the Bar Council.
Looking into the gravity of the allegations and the documents attached to the complaint relating to his chamber and the issuance of Nikahnama/Marriage Certificate, Bar Council of Delhi Chairman Ramesh Gupta took note of the contents of the documents and ordered the formation of a Special Disciplinary Committee comprised of three members namely Himal Akhtar (Vice Chairman, BCD), KC Mittal (Former Chairman, BCD), and
Ajayinder Sangwan (Former Hony. Secretary & Member, BCD), to conduct an immediate investigation into the entire matter in order to save the institution’s dignity and credibility, as the alleged Nikah occurred within the precincts of Karkardooma Court, and that too in a lawyers’ chamber.
According to the BCD, the Secretary will coordinate and provide all assistance to the Special Disciplinary Committee.
