Today, On 21st July, CJI B.R. Gavai-led bench slammed the ED for summoning lawyers merely for giving legal advice, calling it a breach of client confidentiality. “Lawyers can’t be summoned; such advice is protected by privileged communication,” the court said.
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.
