The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa on Tuesday suspended the license of Advocate Gunratan Sadavarte to practise for a period of two years, after finding him guilty of misconduct.
The three-member disciplinary committee of the Bar Council found Sadavarte guilty of misconduct under Section 35 of the Advocates Act 1961.
An email sent by the Secretary of the State Bar Council said that the license to practise issued by BCMG to Respondent Advocate Dr. Gunratan Sadavarte has been suspended for a period of two years from the date of the service of this order on him.
The complainant alleged that Sadavarte was seen wearing his Advocate’s band during television debates, public events and agitations in violation of the advocates ethics code.
Earlier, the High Court had refused to interfere in the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Sadavarte on the complaint filed by Advocate Susheel Manchekar.
On February 7, 2023, the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa had issued a notice to Sadavarte informing him about the disciplinary proceedings and directed him to remain present, following which he moved the High Court.
Observing that Sadavarte would not be given any special treatment merely because he was an Advocate and keeping in view the allegations alleges the complaint was politically motivated, the court simply issued Rule and refused to grant a stay on the proceedings.
The court further observed that it did not find any procedural infirmity with the Bar Council’s notice.