The Bar Council of India on Wednesday passed a unanimous resolution in its General Council meeting conducted via video conferencing, against the electronic media portal “Live Law”.
In the said resolution it has been stated that “Live Law” has allowed its platform to be used for a defamatory story prompted by ill-will and malice to make personal allegations against Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India in a write-up dated 01.06.2020 by one Mr Vikas Bhadauria.
“We take it as a brazen attack not only on the Chairman, but, on the Bar Council of India as an Institution. Ever since, Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra was elected Chairman of Bar Council of India, he has been relentlessly espousing and fighting for the cause of Advocates’ fraternity in the country.
The Members would like to place on record that Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Bar Council of India for the 5th consecutive term on 06.12.2019, because of his quality of dynamic leadership and commitment for the cause of Bar and Standard of Legal Education. He has always fought from the front for the cause of Advocates with all Members of Bar Council of India unitedly standing behind him. There is no difference or dissension among Members of Bar Council of India as regards the laudable acts done and being done by the Chairman for promotion of a strong, vibrant and independent Bar and Judiciary” said the resolution.
This agenda of the meeting was presided over by Mr. Satish A. Deshmukh, the Vice-Chairman of Bar Council of India on the request of Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra.
BCI said that it has always risen to the occasion whenever any unscrupulous, misguided and motivated element attempted to weaken and damage the institution of the Judiciary and the Bar. Of late, Bar Council of India reacted strongly when some disgruntled people from among the Bar and retired Judges made a blistering attack on the Supreme Court with a view to browbeat and weaken Judiciary in the country.
The resolution further stated that the story by Mr. Vikas Bhadauria is only scandal mongering and vilification campaign against Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra and the council resolved to condemn and reject it with all contempt it deserves. The said author has done cherry picking to suit his false story and has made reference to selective portions of certain statements and communications of Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra without giving full text and proper purport which has always been to advance the cause of the bar, said the resolution.
The BCI has decided to make a complaint to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting against the author Mr. Vikas Bhadauria and the news portal “Live Law” for their acts of misreporting, omission and commission, which are nothing short of yellow journalism and a scar on ideal and honest activities of the Media/Press.
However, it was decided that the decision on lodging criminal case for defamation and/or suit for damages shall be taken in the next meeting by the BCI.
Read the resolution here;
Press-Release-Dated-04.06.2020-India Legal Bureau