*Why is there unruliness in the legal profession in India?* (Part 5)
*By Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana*
*Having said so, I now consider it necessary to differentiate between 'pro-party politics' and 'pro-people politics':*
*Pro-people politics demands that political activists would raise their voice against any injustice inflicted upon the common people, irrespective of their class, race, gender or even party political affiliation.*
*On the other hand, pro-party politics is one where the political activists rest their blind faith in a particular political party, even when that party is found to have committed a wrong.*
*I sincerely believe that today's legal professionals should be engaged in pro-people politics, which would strengthen their bond with the society as a professional.*
*It is imperative that a real lawyer stands up for the cause of humanity. A real lawyer, being a respected professional, should be in a position to express his views and to criticise the wrongdoings in the society
independent of any party politics.*
*A real lawyer should find it shameful to serve as a puppet in the hand of the political parties. Moreover, he should never ever let his professional place and position to be used as a pandemonium of any particular political party.*
*There are a few ways lawyers can be motivated to be more professional:*
* 1. Teaching of legal ethics and professional responsibility should be given a very high priority in training and examination of lawyers, both at the academic stage and vocational stage;*
*2. The trainee lawyers undergoing pupillage at various law chambers should be closely monitored by the senior lawyers so that the trainees understand issues of legal ethics and professional responsibilities that might arise in day to day scenario;*
*3. Bar Council and Bar Associations should organize regular seminars on legal ethics and professional responsibility so as to establish the importance of professionalism among lawyers;*
*4. Bar Council should impose exemplary sanctions against lawyers who are in breach of their professional responsibilities;*
*5. Bar Council in conjunction with various Bar Associations can formulate Best Practice Rules for lawyers and keep continuously updating the same;*
*6. There should be regular publications (weekly or monthly) from Attorney General's office where members of bench and bar would write on the issue of legal ethics and professional responsibility;*
*7. Bar Associations of the country should function as "organizations of professional lawyers" and not as "organizations of political lawyers".*
*In conclusion, I repeat that there is no harm in lawyers becoming politically active.*
*However, the political agenda of real lawyers should never ever undermine their professional image - the professional lawyers, who would efficiently serve the court, the clients, the colleagues and the society without there being any fear, favour or force from any political party.*
*An extract courtesy by www.saarclaw.org <http://www.saarclaw.org/>*
*“The Lawyer's Role in a Contemporary Democracy, Promoting Social Change and Political Values;*
*The Lawyer as Catalyst of Social Change”, James E. Moliterno rightly said.*
*Mr. KASHYAP VYAS, Senior Consultant at Infrastructure Project Management Consultant rightly said that the news: For Only  Minority of Corrupt Advocates (I Do not mean to say that All Advocates and Judges are Corrupt
as a whole ) Off Course it is needless to say I/We Activists have  huge
respect & Honour Only for Honest Judges & Advocates , we salute such Advocates and Judges. We do not have any Hatred or Abusive feelings for Judges and Advocates Community. An extract from ‘Madras HC issues
Guidelines to clean the Legal Profession’.*
*I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the various authors, websites and newspapers I have consulted and upon some of whom I have drawn freely for exposition of various aspects of ‘Why is there unruliness in the legal
profession in India?’*
*Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana*
*First posted on July 16, 2016 at 1:19 AM (IST)*