Punjab and Haryana Bar Council suspends licence of Bar Association chief Vikas Malik

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Chandigarh, July 10

The Disciplinary Committee of Punjab and Haryana Bar Council has suspended the licence of Vikas Malik, president of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, till a final decision is taken on the complaints filed against him. The committee has barred him from practising in any court of law.

The Disciplinary Committee has started the proceedings against Malik on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court had directed the Bar Council to look into the complaints against Malik and to take the decision within 10 days.

The committee passed the order today after it received a fresh complaint. The complainants have alleged that Malik removed and took away the DDR of the CCTV cameras installed on the premises of the High Court Bar Association to destroy/sabotage the evidence with regard to FIR registered on July 1, 2024.

They have claimed that the CCTV recording contains the alleged incidents of manhandling of the complainants by Malik and his accomplice. However, the Malik’s counsel denied the allegations before the committee.

In its order, the committee says, “Looking at the nature of allegations in the complaints and subsequent events/developments brought to the notice of this committee, we are of the considered view that a series of events articulate that respondent No.1 (Malik) has time and again tried to interfere in the administration of justice and has brought a stigma upon the noble and prestigious post of President of the High Court Bar Association and thus lowered the dignity of the one of the best HCs in the country.

“In the light of above-mentioned compelling circumstances, we deem it fit that his licence should be suspended till the final decision on the present complaint so that apprehension of destruction of the evidence and influence of witnesses can be avoided.”

Was restrained from acting as president

On July 4, the Bar Council had restrained Vikas Malik from acting as president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association till the final decision is taken on the complaints.