A bench of Justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde found an advocate-on-record filing a large number of cases yet not being in court when the case was called for hearing. It was told that a section of advocates-on-record has made it a habit to lend their name to the petition for filing purposes.

The apex court also made stinging comments about the stature of the legal profession. "In the present era, the legal profession, once known as a noble profession, has been converted into a commercial undertaking," said Justice Chauhan, who authored the judgment for the bench.

The bench said unless advocates, who are equal partners with judges in ensuring justice to litigants, make an endeavour to conduct themselves scrupulously, it would be a travesty of justice and the sufferers would be common people.