The Madras High Court today made changes in the rules coming under the Advocates Act.
According to the new rules, the court has the power under 14-A of the Act to debar advocates who indulge in activities such as trying to influence a judge or participates in a procession inside court campus of holds placards inside the court hall, among others.

“Such advocates shall be debarred from appearing before the high court of subordinate courts permanently or for such period as the court may think fit and the Registrar General shall thereupon report it to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu,” the amendment said.

“If the misconduct is committed before the court of principal district judge, he (judge) would have the power to initiate action against the advocate. If it is committed before any subordinate court, the court concerned shall submit a report to the principal district court within whose jurisdiction it is located and on receipt of such report, the principal district judge shall have the power to initiate action and debar the advocate from practicing in any court of the district.

“The high court or the court of principal district judge,… shall, before making an order under rule 14-A “issue to such advocate a summons returnable before it, requiring the advocate to appear and show cause against the matters alleged in the summons returnable before it, requiring the advocate to appear and show cause against the matters alleged in the summons and summons shall if practicable, be served personally upon him,” the new rules said.

The amendments would come into force from the date of publication, the notification from the Registrar General.