Bill on revocation of lawyer’s permit over severe offenses sent to committee for review

The bill proposing amendments to the Legal Profession Act (LPA) – to require the revocation of lawyer’s permit of judges found guilty of committing a major offense by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which makes it inappropriate for him or her to hold the post– has been sent to review for the Judiciary Committee.

At today’s parliamentary sitting, the bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee for review with the unanimous votes of 41 parliamentarians in attendance.

The purpose of the bill is to pen down the rules pertaining how a judge’s lawyer’s permit will be handled in a scenario JSC submits to the parliament the dismissal of the judge over an act which should not have been committed by a person holding such a post.

The amendment submitted by Dhiggaru MP Ikram Hassan on behalf of the government read that the lawyer’s permit of a judge who is found guilty by JSC of committing a major offense that impacts the integrity judges and the judiciary shall be revoked.  

It also states that a second opportunity at getting the lawyer’s permit shall not be granted to individuals found guilty of such an offense.

However, the amendment states that judges found guilty of lighter offenses subsequent to which their permits are revoked – will be eligible to reapply for lawyer’s permit five years from the date of revocation of their initial permit.