GUWAHATI, Jan 22 � "Our judiciary is a reflection of our society, government and the nation. Both, the judges and the lawyers, have a huge responsibility to make the justice delivery system smooth and fair. In the present world of globalization, commercialism and consumerism, the legal practitioners have an additional responsibility to preserve the professional ethics."
Stressing on the need of a co-ordination between the judges and the advocates, Justice Dr MK Sarma, judge of the Supreme Court of India, while addressing the audience in a seminar, opined that people belonging to both the sections are the two sides of the same coin.
The seminar was organized as a part of the 12th biennial conference of the All Assam Lawyers' Association that started on January 21 at Rabindra Bhawan on the topic 'Professional Ethics and Role of the Bar Council and Bar Associations.
"Judge needs the assistance of the lawyers to dispense fair judgment and the lawyers also necessarily need judicial officers in the justice delivery system. Both the bar and the bench have an onerous duty to perform and to uphold the dignity of legal profession," Justice Sarma, who originally hails from Assam, mentioned.
Citing examples of some of the practices currently followed by a section of legal professionals, defying or compromising with the professional ethics, Sarma said that the breach of trust costs much dearer in legal profession.
He further added that legal professionals should be of impeccable character, who must know the court craft. He should be fearless, but not aggressive.
The seminar was chaired by Justice HN Sarma, Judge of the Gauhati High Court. In his speech, Justice Sarma said that violation of professional ethics is mainly the result of ignorance about the legal and professional ethics.
CK Sarma Barua, senior advocate and ex-Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh, addressing the seminar said that the legal profession is a service-oriented profession, but it is also based on strong professional ethics.
"A lawyer has manifold duties towards himself, the court, his colleagues and also towards the counsel of his opponent party. By sticking to his professional ethics, a legal practitioner contributes towards strengthening the bond between the society and judiciary,� he said.
