Recently, the High Court of Madras asked the respondents to answer whether an Advocate sticker was legally authorised and whether the sticker has legal sanction.
The Bench further asked respondents to answer why the Court should not ban the sticker if it is used for criminal activities, when people stick it on vehicles to intimidate the police.
Case before the Court:
Learned counsel for the petitioner argued that students who were studying in law colleges were using advocates’ stickers to escape the clutches of law.
Reference was also made to news reports wherein it was reported that goondas were using the Advocate’s stickers to smuggle contraband and indulge in nefarious activities.
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The Court impleaded the following parties in the case:
- Director-General of Police, Tamil Nadu, Beach Road, Chennai
- Chairman, Bar Council of India, Delhi
- Chairman, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, Chennai
- Home Secretary, Tamil Nadu Government, Chennai
- Chairman, Mr S K Vel, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu,
- Chairman, JAAC Committee, Police Commissioner Office, Coimbatore
- President/Secretary, Madras High Court Advocate Association
- President/Secretary, Madras High Court Campus, Advocate Association, MBA, Chennai
- President/Secretary, Madurai District Court, Court Campus
- President/Secretary, Madurai Bar Association(MAHAA), Madurai Bench Campus, Madurai
- President/Secretary, women Advocate Association, Madurai Bench Campus
- President/Secretary,Madurai Bar Association(MMBA),Madurai Bench Campus
- President/Secretary,Madurai Bar Association(MBHAA),Madurai Bench Campus
- President/Secretary, Women Advocate Association, Madras High Court Campus, Chennai
The matter is still pending and is to be decided by the High Court.
However for our readers it is to be mentioned here that last year Mumbai Police started a Drive against use of stickers like Advocate, Doctor, Police, Press, Judge, Government, etc on private vehicles.
Also Recently the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu has submitted a Petition to DGP regarding misuse of advocate stickers by unauthorised persons.
However it also to be noted here that different State Governments have their own laws for banning use of such stickers on vehicles.
The use of such sticker is punishable under Section 177 of Motor Vehicle Act 1988, which is a residuary penalty clause.
Some people also use caste symbols Like Thakur, Brahman, Rajput etc on thier cars, which is also illegal and punishable under the Section 177 of the Act of 1988.
Case Details
Title- V. Ramesh v. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr.Ambedkar Law University and others
Case No.-WP(MD) No.15931 of 2020
