New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai to take suo motu cognizance of summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to senior advocate Pratap Venugopal in connection with a legal advice he rendered to a client.
SCAORA expressed concern that such actions have “serious ramifications for the independence of the legal profession.” The association stressed that summoning advocates for professional opinions given to clients undermines the foundational principles of the legal system.
The ED had issued a summons to Venugopal on June 18, seeking documents and communications related to his legal advice to M/s Care Health Insurance Ltd (CHIL) concerning Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) granted to former Religare Enterprises chairperson Dr. Rashmi Saluja.