If Bar Associations pass illegal resolutions, we cannot be mute spectators: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Monday made it clear that it cannot remain silent if Bar Associations resort to passing illegal resolutions.."If Bar Association is passing illegal resolutions, we cannot be a mute spectator", a Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice SS Magadum orally remarked..The Court was hearing a plea challenging the decision of a Mysuru-based lawyers body restricting its members from representing Nalini Balakumar, who had been charged with sedition for holding a 'Free Kashmir' placard during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) held at the Mysore University last year..In January 2020, certain advocates, who are members of the Mysore City Advocates Multipurpose Cooperative Society, had passed a resolution to bar its members from representing Balakumar..During the hearing, the Court asked the Mysuru Bar Association,"Is the resolution not illegal?...The Karnataka State Bar Council should take some action...".In response, advocate Basavaraj S Sappanavar relied on an affidavit filed by the Mysuru Bar Association in which it stated that it had no role to play in passing the resolution..In fact, members of the Association have represented the accused person, the Court was told. Sappanavar also said that the resolution was passed by Mysore City Advocates Multipurpose Cooperative Society, and not the Mysuru Bar Association. He sought time to take instructions on whether the said society is occupying any part of the premises allotted to the Mysuru Bar Association..Counsel for Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) also sought time to take instructions on whether action can be taken against advocates who have passed the resolution..The matter was, therefore, adjourned to March 5.