2 lawyers suspended over misuse of notary seal
The matter stems from an incident in 2021, during which Zunnwaar signed a notarial stamp issued to Mehenaz to verify an agreement.
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The Bar Council has suspended two lawyers for breaching ethical standards by confirming the validity of an agreement in a manner deemed to be in violation of the Legal Profession Act.
At an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, the Bar Council decided to take disciplinary action against Mehenaz Hussain and Zunnwaar Saleem, a married couple.
The matter stems from an incident in 2021, during which Zunnwaar signed a notarial stamp issued to Mehenaz to verify an agreement. The Bar Council stated that affixing a notary seal issued to another lawyer, particularly when not appointed as legal counsel for any party to the agreement, contravenes multiple provisions of the Legal Profession Act.
The penalties imposed are as follows:
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Zunnwaar Saleem’s legal licence has been suspended for 15 months
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Mehenaz Hussain’s legal permit has been suspended for 12 months
In addition to the suspensions, the couple has been fined MVR 500,000 for violating the relevant regulations and for the unauthorised use of the notary seal.
The Bar Council stated that such conduct undermines the role of public notaries, may erode public confidence in legal professionals, and raises questions regarding the integrity of lawyers.
The disciplinary action has been taken under the Bar Council’s authority to enforce compliance with the Legal Profession Act and uphold public trust in the legal system.
