NEW DELHI, July 18: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed all state bar councils to immediately implement its recent circular that laid down strict norms on advocates’ conduct on social media, digital ethics, court decorum, confidentiality and professional responsibility, warning that violations could invite disciplinary action.
In a communication issued to the chairpersons and secretaries of all state bar councils on July 17, the BCI said the circular should be widely disseminated among advocates, law firms, bar associations and legal institutions to ensure strict compliance.
The norms ask advocates to maintain professional conduct on social media and prohibit posts that are misleading, defamatory or disrespectful to courts. They also bar disclosure of confidential client information and restricted court proceedings.
Lawyers have also been asked to uphold courtroom decorum in digital spaces, avoid unethical use of AI-generated content and ensure that all online communication conforms to the ethical standards of the legal profession.
The BCI said the objective was to preserve the dignity of the legal profession and maintain public confidence in the justice delivery system in an era of rapidly expanding digital communication.
According to the communication, the circular provides a comprehensive framework governing lawyers’ professional conduct in digital spaces and reiterates that advocates remain bound by ethical obligations while using social media and other online platforms. (PTI)
