Advocates as Officers of the Court: Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Sanctity in N. Eswaranathan v. State
Advocates as Officers of the Court: Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Sanctity in N. Eswaranathan v. State By Abhishek Jat,Advocate Introduction The Supreme Court of India, in N. Eswaranathan v. State Represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police , delivered a stern judgment reinforcing the ethical obligations of advocates as officers of the court. The case highlights the judiciary’s intolerance towards professional misconduct, particularly when it obstructs the administration of justice. While Justice Bela M. Trivedi imposed strict penalties, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma advocated a more lenient approach, emphasizing forgiveness. This divergence underscores the delicate balance between accountability and compassion in judicial proceedings. Factual Matrix The petitioner, N. Eswaranathan, was convicted under various provisions of the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and his appeal was dismissed by the High Court. He initially filed a Special Leav...