December 16 rape case: BCI moved against defence lawyers

A Bengaluru-based lawyer alongwith Delhi law students on Thursday submitted a petition to the BCI seeking action against defence lawyers of the December 16 gang rape convicts for their controversial remarks in a BBC documentary.

After delivering the petition, with two lakh signatures, to the Bar Council of India (BCI), Raghul Sudheesh, a law journalist and lawyer from Bengaluru expressed the hope that the council will initiate immediate action against defence lawyers M.L. Sharma and A.P. Singh for their misogynistic comments in the BBC documentary "India's Daughter".

"If the BCI fails to act, I would be moving before the Supreme Court of India. I will not let down the hopes of 2 lakh people who have signed my petition and will fight to ensure that these two lawyers are taken to task," said Sudheesh.

He has requested the Bar Council for immediate suspension of the two counsel and issue of direction to both lawyers to tender an unconditional apology failing which they should be debarred from practice permanently.

Sudheesh has requested BCI to amend council rules on derogatory remarks made by lawyers representing sensitive cases, including offences against women.

The petition hosted on Change.org was delivered just two days before the Bar Council sub-committee meets to discuss the complaint against the two defence lawyers.

"The petition hosted on Change.org went viral and has got over 1,90,000 signatures in less than 3 weeks," said a statement.

Outrage over the defence lawyers' remarks led to the Bar Council taking suo motu action and issuing show cause notices to both the lawyers.