Lawyers cannot be sued for deficiency in service’: SC

States legal profession’s nature excludes it from Consumer Protection Act

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held the lawyers do not come within the purview of Consumer Protection Act and cannot be sued for "deficiency in service" before the consumer courts.

The top court said a considerable amount of direct control is exercised by the client over the manner in which an advocate renders his services during the course of his employment.

The services hired or availed of an advocate would be that of a contract "of personal service" and would, therefore, stand excluded from the definition of "service", it said.