In Re: Golakh Nath De

Courtney-Terrell, C.J.—The person to whom these proceedings relate is Golakh Nath De, a young pleader of Balasore; was admitted in the year 1928. He was convicted together with a number of other people for an offence under the Salt Law which he committed by way of political demonstration and the offence was committed after warning. He was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months, and it is fairly presumable from the circumstances that having little or no professional business he devoted himself to this form of activity by way of occupation of his time. He had been called upon under the Legal Practitioners'' Act, to show cause on a letter of reference by the District Magistrate, why he should not be either removed from the rolls or suspended from practice for a conduct which is inconsistent with his position as pleader and an officer of the Court and with those privileges which attach to his profession and office. It has been made abundantly clear by judgments of the Privy Council and of other High Courts that offences of this nature can clearly be dealt with under the Legal Practitioners'' Act. He has addressed to this Court a letter, which is mildly contumacious and affords no excuse for his conduct. It is right that in the circumstances he should be brought to realize that the conduct of which he has been convicted is inconsistent with the duty of a professional lawyer; and we therefore suspend him for a period of six months from this date.

Adami, J.

I agree.

Mohamad Noor, J.

I agree.