New Delhi, Nov 14: The legal profession has its stalwarts who adhere to the values of honesty, impartiality and upholding the principles of justice but that is not the image of the bar as a whole. Values seem to be eroding and this has affected the functioning of organized groups like bar councils, says a new book.
One reason for the present day state of affairs is the influx of a large number of entrants to the profession without a proper legal education and background, but placing of restriction on new entrants is frowned upon, says the book 'reflections of a lawyer' by senior advocate Keshav Dayal. The author who has completed his 50 years as a lawyer is vice chairman of SAARC law and vice president of International Institutes of Human Rights Society.
While raising questions like what is the image of lawyers in public mind? Is the image of a professional people dedicated to the task of building an Indian society based on social, political and economic justice or is the image that of a business person, out to make huge profits working on commercial lines, defending the rich, the elite and the chosen few, and working on the principles of expediency rather than justice?, the book says that the questions are not easy to answer.
The image of the lawyers would get a boost if some efforts are made to have standardization in respect of payment of fees to the lawyers and greater role by the Bar Council and Bar Associations to eradicate delays in delivery of justice, the book says. The book is a compilation of articles published in newspapers by the author.
Bureau Report
