H MANJUNATH Vs. KARNATAKA STATE BAR COUNCIL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is before this Court calling in question the order dtd. 5/11/2023 and consequent Notification dtd. 23/11/2023 passed by the first respondent-Karnataka State Bar Council (hereinafter referred to as 'the Council' for short) suspending the petitioner from practising in any Courts of the country.

(2.) Heard Sri H.Manjunath, petitioner-in-person, learned counsel Sri. Nataraj .G appearing for first respondent/Council and learned counsel Sri. Mahesh Arkalgud appearing for second respondent/complainant.

(3.) The petitioner is a practicing Advocate, who claims to have set-up his practice and is practising in several Courts of the country. The issue relates to a complaint being filed by second respondent against certain alleged activities of the petitioner, which would touch upon sexual harassment of second respondent, by the petitioner. Several instances of messages being sent or whatsapp messages being sent to the complainant, form the fulcrum of the complaint. The complaint was registered on 2/9/2023 by the second respondent. The complaint was numbered as C-164/2023. The petitioner was issued a notice on 21/9/2023. After receipt of notice from the hands of the Council, the petitioner by his representation requested 10 to 14 days time to submit his explanation. The communication was sent to the Council on 5/10/2023. The Council appears to have waited for 30 days from 5/10/2023 and then passed an order which is impugned in the subject petition. The order reads as follows: