Lawyer Barred From Practice For Allegedly Assaulting Woman Advocate Approaches High Court Against Bar Council’s Disciplinary Action
Advocate Beyline Das, whose practice was barred by the Kerala Bar Council for allegedly assaulting a woman advocate, has moved the High Court challenging the Council’s disciplinary action against him.
Das, who used to practice at the courts in Trivandrum, was accused of assaulting his female junior. After the incident came to light, the State Bar Council impeded his practice till a final decision was taken in disciplinary proceedings initiated at the instance of Trivandrum Bar Association.
Justice N. Nagaresh issued notice on his petition and asked the Bar Council to file its reply by July 01, the next date of hearing.
Das has argued that the Bar Council had no legal existence at the time of initiating disciplinary action (May 14, 2025), in view of its term having ended on May 06, 2024.
He relied on Yeshwanth Shenoy v. State of Kerala and Others (2025) where the High Court had found the Bar Council of Kerala to be continuing in violation of the statute, after the expiry of its 5-year term.
“A special committee was required to be constituted in absence of elections which was not done in the present case. The Bar Council of Kerala is not existing at this time and therefore, the Bar Council cannot proceed with the case, unless and until a duly elected and properly constituted committee is in place,” it had said while allowing Shenoy’s challenge to disciplinary proceedings initiated against him by the Kerala Bar Council.
Claiming parity, Das submitted that the Kerala Bar Council could not have initiated action against him. He also submitted that a criminal case has been lodged in the matter and thus, the Council should await its conclusion before proceeding with the disciplinary proceedings.
Das is booked under Sections 126(2) [Wrongful restraint], 74 [Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty], 115(2) [Voluntarily causing hurt] and 117(1) [Voluntarily causing grievous hurt] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was granted bail by a Magistrate Court on May 19.
The plea is moved by Advocate Akhil Suresh.
Case Title: Beylin Das v The Bar Council of Kerala
Case No: WP(C) 23137/ 2025
