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Bar Council of Gujarat seeks BCI approval for lifting the bar on advocates from taking up other salaried employment amid the COVID-19 pandemic
In an offer to help lawyers confronting financial difficulties attributable to the fall in the court work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bar Council of Gujarat has passed a resolution in order to lift the bar on the practicing lawyers from taking up some other employment until December 31, 2020. After its passage on 21st June 2020, the Bar Council of Gujarat has sent the resolution to the Bar Council of India (BCI) for its approval. Rules 47 to 52 of the Bar Council of India Rules restrict practicing advocates from taking up some other type of employment. Section 35 of the Advocates' Act, 1961 punishes any such advocate found indulged in other employment. Be that as it may, with about 75,000 lawyers confronting challenges following the suspension of standard court working in the midst of the pandemic, and given their resulting troubles to procure their livelihood and cater tot he needs of the families, the Bar Council of Gujarat has now encouraged the BCI to loosen up these principles. To this end, it has been consistently resolved to allow lawyers registered with the Bar Council of Gujarat to carry out any job or business for financial sustainment, given that the equivalent ought to be to such an extent that the regard of the legal profession is kept up.
In that capacity, it was settled that such lawyers shall be absolved from the operation of Section 35 of the Advocates' Act (managing discipline for misconduct or ill behavior) until December 31, 2020. Addressing Bar and Bench, the Chairman of the Bar Council of Gujarat noticed this is the first run through a State Bar Council in quite a while has taken up such an initiative. In any case, he asserted that its implementation would be dependent upon the BCI's approval. Patel likewise emphasized that over Rs 5.35 crores has been dispensed as financial aid so far to around 11,000 advocates who needed the same because of the COVID-19 emergency.
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