HC expresses concern over ‘Katta Panchayat’ practice of lawyers

Justice Kirupakaran of the High Court of Madras has expressed concern over the ‘Katta panchayat’ practice stating that it would spell the doom for practicing lawyers.

The High Court was taking up a petition relating to streamlining the profession of advocates and lawyers when Justice Kirupakaran said that Govt. should seriously consider banning the registration as lawyers in respect of those who retired from Govt. and private services to practice as lawyers.

The Judge also stipulated a time-frame for Advocates’ Association to pass a resolution in this regard. “It is time for the Association to take urgent steps to streamline the profession of advocates,” he observed.

Expressing his concern at the increasing practice of ‘Katta panchayat’, Justice Kirupakaran opined that if left unchecked, this practice would even spell the doom of the future of advocates. “If we are not able to save our profession, it would only be left to the mercy of the Almighty. Learning law without studying it properly leads to the increasing number of ‘Katta Panchayat’ practices,” Justice Kirupakaran said.