Supreme Court's Landmark Ruling Protects Advocates from Probe Agency Summons

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has invalidated summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to two senior advocates, setting a significant precedent for protecting lawyers from undue pressure by investigating agencies.

The verdict, delivered by a bench including Chief Justice B R Gavai, was rendered in the context of a suo motu case following the ED's contentious summons to advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal. The ruling emphasizes safeguarding the legal profession by curbing inappropriate summons requests.

The Court outlined measures preventing agencies from demanding client details from lawyers unless stipulated by relevant laws, and mandated strict protocols for the seizure of digital devices. The decision underscores a commitment to maintaining the sanctity of attorney-client privilege and legal statutory protections.