The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (BCPH) has suspended the licence of a city-based lawyer for one year on grounds of professional misconduct, following serious allegations of harassment, deception, and abuse of legal process against his landlord.
In its official statement, the BCPH refrained from disclosing the name of the advocate but confirmed that the disciplinary action was taken pursuant to a complaint filed by the 70-year-old landlord’s daughter-in-law.
According to the complaint, the lawyer initially concealed his true profession by misrepresenting himself as a banker when renting the premises. He was later revealed to be a practising advocate. The allegations against him include wilful non-payment of rent, harassment of the elderly landlord, and coercive demands for monetary compensation in exchange for vacating the rented property.
The Bar Council further noted that the lawyer allegedly resorted to filing false criminal complaints to intimidate and pressure the landlord’s family. Despite being served multiple notices, the lawyer failed to appear before the Council, leading to ex parte proceedings against him.
“The actions of the advocate amount to professional misconduct and bring disrepute to the legal profession,” the BCPH stated in its order.
With the suspension in effect, the lawyer is debarred from practicing law or appearing in any court across the country for the duration of one year.
