Misconduct: Suspension of 1 lawyer revoked

CHENNAI: Madurai-based Bar leader M Thirunavukkarasu on Friday became the first of the 45 lawyers suspended from practicing by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to earn a reprieve, with the Madras HC revoking his suspension.
Recording the lawyer's statement that he would not henceforth be involved in any improper activity, a bench of Justices V Ramsubramanian and N Kirubakaran directed the BCI to revoke the suspension.The judges, however, made it clear that they were not interfering with the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer and others.
Thirunavukkarasu was among a group of 15 advocates the chairman of BCI placed under suspension by an order on September 22, 2015 over serious allegations of misconduct.
Thirunavukkarasu's counsel M Ajmal Khan came up with a four-pronged defence that included an argument that his right to practice law had been curtailed by the prolonged suspension.There is no likelihood of the disciplinary proceedings concluding early so the suspension infringed on the lawyer's right to livelihood, he said.
Thirunavukkarasu also filed a statement saying he would not be involved in any act of impropriety in future and that he would refrain from Bar activities as well.