Himachal HC orders probe against Advocate for allegedly misusing client’s signatures, withdrawing accident compensation
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Shimla, Jul 22,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed an inquiry into allegations that a lawyer misused the signatures of his client and fraudulently withdrew accident compensation funds. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur ordered the Chairman, Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, and the Superintendent of Police, Shimla, to “look into the matter personally and ensure to take complaint/application to its logical end, in accordance with law, in a time bound manner and to communicate the action taken on the complaint to applicant No.1-appellant immediately as well as to this Court through Registrar (Judicial) well before next date of hearing.”
The appellant, Rama Devi, sought condonation of a delay of 8 years, 8 months, and 14 days in filing an appeal against an award dated August 1, 2015, passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) regarding her husband’s death.
She alleged that her former counsel obtained her signatures on blank papers, assuring her these were required for releasing the compensation and filing an appeal for enhanced compensation.
In 2023, Rama Devi discovered that an additional Rs. 4.16 lakh credited to her bank account had been withdrawn through an ATM card allegedly issued in her name without her knowledge. She claimed that her advocate misused her signatures to fraudulently withdraw the money. Despite filing complaints before the Bar Council and the Superintendent of Police, no action was communicated to her.
Acknowledging the “extraordinary inordinate delay,” the court found “sufficient cause” for condoning it, citing the beneficial intent of the Motor Vehicles Act. Referring to Brahampal v. National Insurance Co. (2021), the court stressed the need for liberal interpretation of delays in such cases.
The High Court directed the appeal to be registered and listed the matter for further orders on September 10, 2025.
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