The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on Friday in a suo motu case examining if probe agencies can summon advocates for offering legal opinions or representing clients under investigation. The verdict follows concerns over the ED “crossing all limits” by calling lawyers for questioning.
The SCBA and SCAORA condemn the Enforcement Directorate’s summons to senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal for providing legal advice, labeling it an attack on lawyer-client privilege and the independence of the legal profession. They urge the Chief Justice of India to safeguard advocates’ rights and uphold constitutional protections.
The Madras High Court Advocates’ Association condemned the Enforcement Directorate’s notice to Senior Advocate Arvind Datar as an attack on legal independence. The summons, regarding Datar’s professional legal opinion, faced nationwide backlash from legal associations. Although the ED later withdrew the notice, concerns about undermining attorney-client confidentiality persist among lawyers across India.
The Supreme Court dismissed SEBI’s appeal against the SAT ruling that cleared Mukesh Ambani of penalties for the 2007 Reliance Petroleum stock manipulation case, citing no question of law. However, the Court will hear SEBI’s appeal regarding SAT’s relief to RIL on December 2, 2023. Senior advocates represented both parties.
