The Jharkhand High Court has asked the Enforcement Directorate to submit its response in Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s petition challenging the summons in a land scam case. The matter is likely to be heard again on December 18.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a new rule prohibiting summons to advocates without the Director’s approval, emphasizing lawyer-client confidentiality protections. This decision follows backlash over potential violations during an investigation into CHIL’s allegedly improper issuance of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), which had faced prior rejection by regulatory authorities.
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.
Today, On 23rd October, the Delhi High Court scheduled a January 22 hearing for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against Enforcement Directorate summons related to the excise policy case. Kejriwal seeks legal relief amid investigations into alleged irregularities and money laundering, arguing the process is politically motivated and unconstitutional.