The Supreme Court, quoting Shakespeare’s famous line “Let’s kill all the lawyers,” criticised investigating agencies for summoning advocates in criminal cases, warning that such actions could infringe upon their fundamental rights and undermine the independence of the legal profession.
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.