Supreme Court Slams Lawyer for Conflict of Interest in Tamil Nadu Cash-for-Jobs Scam, Orders Bar Council Action
New Delhi, 12th May 2025: The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticised an advocate for professional misconduct after he was found representing both the accused and the victims in the high-profile Tamil Nadu cash-for-jobs scam case, which centres on former state minister Senthil Balaji as the prime accused. The incident has raised serious questions about legal ethics and the integrity of court proceedings in one of the country’s most closely watched corruption cases.
On Friday, a bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed a special leave petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Movement, an association advocating for the scam’s victims. The petition, drafted and filed by advocate N. Subramaniam, challenged the Special Court’s decision to club multiple supplementary charge sheets with the main charge sheet in the ongoing trial. However, it was revealed in court that Subramaniam was also representing accused number 18 in the same case, a fact he admitted before the bench.
Expressing sharp displeasure, Justice Oka stated in open court, “This petition is drafted by Mr. N. Subramaniam, representing Anti-Corruption Movement. This Anti-Corruption Movement is espousing the cause of the victims of the offence. Learned counsel Shri N. Subramaniam admitted that he is representing the accused No. 18. Apart from what is observed in paragraph 17 of the impugned judgement, it is obvious that the actions of the petitioner are not bona fide because the petitioner is being represented by an advocate representing the accused. Therefore, the SLP is dismissed. We direct that a copy of this order shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu for appropriate action”.
The court’s order has been sent to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, which has been instructed to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer for his conflict of interest and breach of professional conduct. The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the importance of legal ethics, particularly in sensitive criminal cases where the appearance of impartiality is crucial for justice.
This development comes as the cash-for-jobs scam continues to trigger political and legal controversy in Tamil Nadu, with multiple accused and ongoing hearings drawing national attention. The Supreme Court’s strong stance is expected to set a precedent for handling similar cases of professional misconduct in the legal fraternity.
