HARISH C. TIWARI vs BAIJU

The Supreme Court addressed the adequacy of punishment imposed by the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of India on an advocate found guilty of misappropriating compensation funds belonging to a poor, illiterate client. While the Disciplinary Committee had imposed a three-year suspension, the Court questioned whether such a lenient penalty was sufficient for a grave breach of professional trust. The Court exercised its power under the Advocates Act, 1961, to consider enhancing the penalty to the permanent removal of the advocate's name from the state roll.