The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council has suspended Advocate RD Santhana Krishnan from practicing before courts and tribunals across the country till the disposal of disciplinary proceedings initiated against him after he was spotted in a compromising position with a woman during Madras High Court proceedings which were being held via video conference, reports Bar and Bench.
The Bar Council passed a prohibitory order against the lawyer shortly after a Senior Division Bench of the Madras High Court initiated contempt proceedings and a CB-CID inquiry against him.
“The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has passed a resolution, dated 21.12.2021 prohibiting him from practicing as an advocate in all Courts, Tribunals and other authorities in India either in his name or in any assumed name till the disposal of disciplinary proceedings pending against him for his indecent behaviour while attending the court proceedings of the Hon’ble High Court of Madras through virtual mode,” the resolution passed by the Bar Council said.
A video clipping had gone viral on social media in which Krishnan was seen canoodling with a woman even as the Court proceedings were in progress.
The High Court had ordered a CB-CID inquiry into the incident since the video prima facie disclosed the commission of cognizable offences under the Information Technology Act and other penal laws.
In this regard, the Court sought a preliminary report to be submitted before the Court on December 23.
Further, the Division Bench directed the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai to explore ways to delete the video of the incident circulating on social media.
In light of the incident, the Court was also of the view that the hybrid mode of hearing needs to be revisited, especially since lawyers were appearing physically in large numbers. It, therefore, placed the matter before the acting Chief Justice for his consideration.
The case before the High Court will be heard next on December 23.
