Madras Bar Association Condemns ED Summons To Arvind Datar, Says Such Action Would Paralyse Legal System

The Madras Bar Association has condemned the act of the Enforcement Directorate in issuing a notice to Senior Advocate Arvind Datar in connection with a legal opinion rendered by him. 

The association highlighted that time and again, the Supreme Court has held that advocates are not liable for the alleged acts of their clients. It also added that if advocates are subjected to coercive measures for their legal opinion, it would paralise the legal system.

"The Hon'ble Supreme Court has, time and again, held that advocates are not liable for the alleged acts of their clients. If advocates can be subjected to coercive measures for legal advice it would paralize the legal system,"

Though the ED withdrew the summons issued to the Senior Advocate, the MBA lodged its protest against the ED's action and remarked that it hoped the ED would not repeat such actions against lawyers who perform their duties fearlessly. 

The Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association(SCAORA) has also lodged its strong protest against the ED's action. Asserting that Datar was a highly respected Senior Advocate of unimpeachable integrity, the SCAORA said, "To summon a senior member of the Bar for discharging his professional responsibility is a misuse of authority and an affront to the sanctity of the advocate's role."