SC raps UP Bar council for shielding advocates over fake claim petitions

New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council (UPBC) for shielding advocates in a matter of fake claim petitions of "thousands of crores" involving lawyers even as the Bar Council of India (BCI) said it has suspended 28 lawyers in the state for such cases.
A bench headed by Justices M.R. Shah and Sanjiv Khanna said that filing of fake claims is a serious matter and a prima facie case is being made out against certain advocates in the first information report.
"This is a very serious matter. Filing of fake claim cases by advocates of thousands of crores and you are not much serious. In fact, you should have taken action without our orders. We feel that you are just shielding your advocates by your inaction," the bench observed.
The counsel for the BCI apprised the court that it has notified its decision to suspend 28 lawyers in UP for indulging in the malpractice of filing false claim cases.
The top court said that there can't be negligence on part of the police in investigating the matter, and it should probe the matters from all possible angles.
The bench also warned that if it finds out that the probe was conducted in order to save someone, then there will be consequences .
The apex court had earlier slammed the UPBC over non-appearance in a matter of fake claim petitions involving advocates..
"It is the duty of the Bar Council of the State and the Bar Council of India to maintain the dignity and restore the glory of the legal profession. In the present case, unfortunately the Bar Council of UP is not at all serious and as observed hereinabove insensitive," the bench had said.
The apex court had also taken note of a status report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted in compliance of the order dated October 7, 2015 passed by the Allahabad High Court, that out of a total of 92 criminal cases in various districts registered till date, of which 28 advocates have been named as accused persons in 55 cases, the investigation has been concluded in 32 cases.

The top court had earlier said that the SIT was constituted pursuant to the order passed by the Allahabad High Court for conducting enquiry and investigation of the cases related to causing loss in crores of rupees to the insurance companies as far back as 2015, and despite the same, the investigation/enquiry has not been completed till date.