Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Odisha Bar Council Notices Three Advocates Over Social Media Promotion
The Odisha State Bar Council sent notices to three lawyers.
The Council says they used social media to promote their legal services.
Lawyers in India are not allowed to advertise or ask people directly for legal work in certain ways.
These restrictions are set out in Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules.
The notices do not yet mean the lawyers have been found guilty.
The three advocates must explain what happened.
The Council will consider whether disciplinary action should begin.
The Council also reminded young lawyers to follow professional conduct rules and protect the dignity of the legal profession.
The Odisha State Bar Council issued show-cause notices to three advocates over alleged social media promotion of their legal practices.
The notices named Byomakesh Tripathy, Anjan Kumar Pradhan and Jayanta Kumar Padhi.
The Council alleged violations of Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules.
Rule 36 prohibits advocates from soliciting work or advertising legal services through print, electronic, social or other media.
The advocates were asked to explain why disciplinary proceedings should not begin under the Advocates Act, 1961.
- Who
- The Odisha State Bar Council and advocates Byomakesh Tripathy, Anjan Kumar Pradhan and Jayanta Kumar Padhi.
- What
- The Council issued show-cause notices over alleged publication and circulation of promotional legal-practice content on social media.
- When
- Friday, according to the official communication.
- Where
- Odisha; the alleged promotion appeared on various social media platforms.
- Why
- The Council said the alleged conduct may violate Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules, which restricts advertising and solicitation by advocates.
- Regulatory body
- Odisha State Bar Council
- Advocates named
- Byomakesh Tripathy, Anjan Kumar Pradhan and Jayanta Kumar Padhi
- Relevant rule
- Rule 36 of Section IV, Chapter II, Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules
- Alleged conduct
- Publishing, circulating and disseminating advertisements, solicitation and promotional content relating to legal practice
- Potential action
- Disciplinary proceedings, subject to the advocates' responses to the show-cause notices
- Legal provision
- Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 allows a State Bar Council to initiate disciplinary proceedings for alleged professional or other misconduct