CDCBA Slams ED Summons To Senior Advocates, Demands Apology For “Assault On Legal Independence”
The Central District Court Bar Association (CDCBA) has issued a scathing statement condemning the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for issuing what it termed as “unwarranted and constitutionally indefensible” summons to Senior Advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal in connection with legal opinions rendered during the discharge of their professional duties.
In a strongly worded resolution passed by its Executive Committee, the CDCBA described the ED’s move as “an egregious misuse of investigative authority” and warned that such interference could strike at the heart of the legal profession’s independence and India’s constitutional democracy.
“Legal advice given by an Advocate is privileged communication, protected under attorney-client confidentiality, a doctrine consistently upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the statement said.
It further asserted that the issuance of summons, though subsequently withdrawn, has already caused “significant and unwarranted damage” to the professional dignity of the lawyers involved and sent a chilling message to the entire legal community.
Both Datar and Venugopal are distinguished members of the Bar, known for their integrity and long-standing service to the cause of justice.
The CDCBA emphasized that their summoning for rendering legal opinions sets a “dangerous precedent” and constitutes executive overreach into a constitutionally protected domain.
Calling the ED’s action “deeply alarming,” the Association declared that any attempt to intimidate or coerce advocates into silence or submission would be met with “unified, principled resistance from the legal fraternity.”
The Bar, it said, is not a passive participant but a vital organ of the justice system, and its independence must be preserved at all costs. In a significant demand, the CDCBA urged the Enforcement Directorate to issue a formal and public apology to both Datar and Venugopal.
“Such an apology is not merely symbolic—it is necessary to reaffirm the constitutional values of independence, fairness, and respect for the rule of law,” the statement read.
The Association’s Secretary, Advocate Vijay Bishnoi, stated that the CDCBA stood in “full solidarity” with both senior advocates and reaffirmed its commitment to defend the independence of the Bar and the judiciary from any form of external interference.