Tribune News ServiceGurgaon, October 6
The newly constituted District (Gurgaon) Bar Association will take up a slew of measures to enhance the dignity of the legal profession, according to the newly elected president of the association, Mr Karan Singh Rao.
Mr Rao, who won by a convincing margin securing 422 votes and defeating his nearest rival by 61 votes, told the NCR Tribune that the association’s priority would be to update the library of the court and modernise it by installing the relevant gazettes like computer.
Besides, the association’s emphasis would be to construct Sir Shadi Auditorium, foundation stone for which had been laid more than seven years back. The proposed auditorium is to be set up opposite the Court No 1.
Mr Rao, who was association secretary in 1992, said that there were a number of things to be done so that the lawyers could serve the public effectively.
The association will revive its practice of providing two chairs to freshers who would register themselves with the district court and consequently become its (association) members. This practice was stopped about a decade back.
On the aspect of over-crowdedness of the district court, he said that the mini-secretariat would be inaugurated on January 30 next year. The offices of the District Magistrate and other officers would be shifted in it creating the much-needed space for the lawyers. Presently, there are about 1,393 advocates practising in the main court. Many of them manage without a sitting space.
According to him, the association will also make efforts to improve the supply of water and electricity on the court premises.
Moreover, the cleanliness of the premises is another area which needs to be improved upon.
He stressed that that the functioning of the association as an elected body needs to be improved. Although he did not specify the anomalies in the functioning, it was clear that the newly elected office-bearers of the body were weighed down with the recent controversies, specially relating to the management of accounts, which even spilled over to the notice of the outside public.
Mr Rao emphasised that the association has to become more transparent in its functioning.
In response to a specific question, he said that the legal profession is service-oriented and its practising members are also considered to be leaders in the polity. Traditionally, the lawyers are considered to be the standard-bearers of morality and upholders of dignity. Their actions in and outside the court should conform to the highest canons of propriety and sobriety.
The association will make singular effort to strengthen this tradition. The onus to keep up the tradition has become all the more important in view of the growing globalisation from which the legal community cannot remain aloof, he added.
Meanwhile, other office-bearers who have been elected are as follows: Mr S.K. Sharma, vice-president; Mrs Suman Dahiya, secretary and Mr S.M. Maheshwari, joint secretary.
