High Court stays SDMs’ order barring lawyers from appearing before them

The high court has put on hold an order and a public notice issued by two sub divisional magistrates prohibiting lawyers from practising or appearing before them in marriage registration matters.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva made it clear that no advocate shall solicit work or cause any harassment to people going to SDM office for registration of marriages.

“It is directed that till the next date of hearing, the operation of the impugned public notice and the impugned order shall remain stayed. The respondents (SDMs) are directed not to deny entry or prevent bona fide advocates from functioning and assisting their clients for the purpose of registration of their marriages. It is however, clarified that no advocate shall solicit work at the office of the SDM or cause any harassment to the people who are coming for registration of marriages in contravention of the standards of professional conduct and Etiquette as prescribed by the Bar Council of India,” the court said and listed the matter for hearing on September 20.

It also issued notice to and sought response of the two SDMs of Punjabi Bagh and Hauz Khas, appointed as the marriage officers of their area, on a plea by some lawyers challenging the prohibition.