Anup (Private) 09 July 2017

Ministers in office & private practice as advocates

I just found a Whats'App post, as under:-

"Indians should pay taxes to become developed nation says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Vodafone India fails to pay tax and evaded to tune of over Rs. 14,200 crores. Any guess who was the lawyer defending Vodafone against the Indian Govt?
It was none other than Arun Jaitley."

I wonder if Mr. Jaitley as finance minister can continue to practice as an Advocate, especially for defending a corporate body, against alleged 'Tax Evasion' charge?

I feel this should not be allowed.

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1 Replies

P. Venu (Advocate) 13 July 2017

Arun Jaitley may not have been a Minister when he appeared for Vodafone, but he certainly was a Minister prior to that and had held many sensitive portfolios. Professionalism requires that when a person becomes a Minister, that too a Union Cabinet Minister, he should discontinue legal practice altogether or at least, should not appear against the Government.