Top court takes suo motu note of ED summoning lawyers for legal advice

The Supreme Court has initiated a suo motu case over the issue of investigation agencies summoning lawyers who offer opinion or represent parties in cases to examine if they can be put to notice.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria will hear the matter July 14, when the court reopens after the summer break.

The action comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoning a couple of senior lawyers - Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal.

However, the ED June 20 directed its investigating officers not to issue summons to any advocate in a money laundering investigation being carried out against their client, adding that exception to this rule can only be made after “approval” by the agency’s director.