Supreme Court questions lawyer working as journalist: Will not allow dual role

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up a lawyer after finding out that he was also working as a freelance journalist, saying that it “will not allow such a dual role”.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also issued a notice to the Bar Council of India seeking its response on the issue.
A two-judge bench of the top court, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih, was hearing a plea filed by Advocate Mohd Kamran against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
During the hearing, the top court found out that Kamran was also working as a freelance journalist, in addition to being an advocate, following which the notice was issued to the Bar Council of India.
The Bar Council rules mandate against engaging in any other profession to practising lawyers.
“He has to be either an advocate or a journalist, we will not allow such practice,” the court said.
“We cannot allow such a dual role. This is a noble profession. He cannot say that he is a freelance journalist,” the court said while coming heavily on Kamran.
Earlier in July this year, the Supreme Court also directed the Bar Council of India and the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to take necessary action on Kamran’s working as a freelance journalist while simultaneously practising as a lawyer.