The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Tuesday issued a summon notice to its three advocates after a complaint regarding committing of professional and other misconduct was filed by Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Achal Sethi.
The three advocates are Mian Abdul Qayoom, Ghulam Nabi Thoker @ Shaheen and Nazir Ahmad Ronga.
The three separate summon notices have been issued from Secretary to Hon’ble Disciplinary Committee, office of the Joint Registrar (Judicial), the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to these advocates.
They have been directed to appear before the court on 17 December.
“You are hereby summoned to appear before this Committee on 17.12.2022 at 10:30 AM at High Court J&K and Ladakh at Srinagar in the above-titled complaint before the Hon’ble Disciplinary Committee,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with a local news agency.
An order copy from the High Court J-K and Ladakh signed by the High Court Judges Sanjeev Kumar, Sanjay Dhar and Mohd Akram Chowdhary reads, “A complaint, filed by Mr Achal Sethi, Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for initiating disciplinary action against three Advocates, namely Mian Abdul Qayoom, Ghulam Nabi Thoker @ Shaheen and Nazir Ahmad Ronga for committing professional and other misconduct under the Advocates Act, 1961, is presented before us by the Registrar General of this Court under the orders of Lord Chief Justice.”
It further reads, “Having gone through the contents of the complaint and the material placed on record, we are of the view that prima facie, the allegations levelled by the Law Secretary against the above-named advocates constitute professional and other misconduct.”
“Notice to the above-named advocates for their reply by or before the next date of hearing,” it added.
It is pertinent to mention that the Law Secretary in his complaint has accused “the three advocates of being anti national, supporting Hurriyat ideology, transforming the working of High Court Bar Association into a secessionist group and supporting anti-government activities”.