Law Society of Singapore v Ravi Madasamy: Disciplinary Action for Rude Behavior to Judge
In Law Society of Singapore v Ravi Madasamy, the High Court of Singapore addressed an application by the Law Society for disciplinary action against Mr. Ravi Madasamy, an advocate and solicitor, for misconduct unbefitting an officer of the court. The charge stemmed from Mr. Madasamy's rude and discourteous behavior towards a district judge. The court granted the Law Society's application, suspending Mr. Madasamy from practice for one year and ordering him to bear the costs of the application.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Application granted; respondent suspended from practice for one year and ordered to bear the costs of the application.
1.3 Case Type
Regulatory
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Ravi Madasamy, an advocate and solicitor, faced disciplinary action for rude and discourteous behavior towards a district judge. The court suspended him from practice for one year.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Society of Singapore | Applicant | Statutory Board | Application Granted | Won | |
| Ravi Madasamy | Respondent | Individual | Suspended from practice for one year | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Chan Sek Keong | Chief Justice | Yes |
| Andrew Phang Boon Leong | Justice of the Court of Appeal | No |
| Judith Prakash | Judge | No |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Chua Boon Beng | Mallal & Namazie |
| Mirza Namazie | Mallal & Namazie |
4. Facts
- Ravi Madasamy, an advocate and solicitor, displayed rude behavior towards District Judge Wong Choon Ning.
- Madasamy turned his back on the District Judge while being addressed.
- Madasamy remained seated while being addressed by the District Judge.
- Madasamy spoke in loud tones, interfering with court proceedings.
- Madasamy responded to the District Judge in an unbecoming manner.
- Madasamy informed the District Judge that he would report her to the Legal Service Commission and the Ministry of Law.
5. Formal Citations
- Law Society of Singapore v Ravi Madasamy, OS 1361/2006, SUM 3522/2006, [2007] SGHC 20
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Incident occurred at Court 26, Subordinate Courts, Havelock Road | |
| Law Society's counsel sent a letter to the respondent's counsel outlining the terms of the agreement | |
| Respondent's counsel replied, conveying the respondent's agreement to the proposals | |
| Respondent wrote a letter to the Law Society alleging contradictions in the DC's findings | |
| Law Society filed application under s 98 of the Legal Profession Act | |
| High Court granted the Law Society's application |
7. Legal Issues
- Misconduct Unbefitting an Advocate and Solicitor
- Outcome: The court found that the respondent's conduct amounted to misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Rude and discourteous behavior to a district judge
- Disrespect for judicial authority
- Appropriate Punishment for Misconduct
- Outcome: The court ordered the respondent to be suspended from practice for one year.
- Category: Procedural
- Sub-Issues:
- Suspension from practice
- Censure
8. Remedies Sought
- Disciplinary Action
- Suspension from Practice
- Order to Show Cause
9. Cause of Actions
- Misconduct Unbefitting an Advocate and Solicitor
10. Practice Areas
- Regulatory Law
- Professional Conduct
11. Industries
- Legal Services
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Society of Singapore v Ng Chee Sing | High Court | Yes | [2000] 2 SLR 165 | Singapore | Cited to explain the scope of section 83(2)(h) of the Legal Profession Act as a catch-all provision for unacceptable conduct. |
| Public Trustee v By Products Traders Pte Ltd | High Court | Yes | [2005] 3 SLR 449 | Singapore | Cited to emphasize the importance of adhering to the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules. |
| Re Kumaraendran, an Advocate & Solicitor | High Court | Yes | [1975] 2 MLJ 45 | Malaysia | Cited to highlight the importance of decorum and respect for the court in the administration of justice. |
| Re Hilborne | High Court | Yes | [1984-1985] SLR 343 | Singapore | Cited as an example of serious misconduct where an advocate was struck off the roll for being discourteous, rude, and insolent to a judge. |
| Law Society of Singapore v Tham Yu Xian Rick | High Court | Yes | [1999] 4 SLR 168 | Singapore | Cited for the principles underlying disciplinary sentencing, including punishment, deterrence, and protection of public confidence. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules (Cap 161, R 1, 2000 Rev Ed) |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Legal Profession Act (Cap 161, 2001 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68, 1985 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Evidence Act (Cap 97, 1997 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Misconduct
- Advocate and Solicitor
- Disciplinary Proceedings
- Rude Behavior
- District Judge
- Legal Profession Act
- Show Cause
- Suspension
- Professional Conduct
15.2 Keywords
- Law Society
- Ravi Madasamy
- Disciplinary Action
- Misconduct
- Advocate
- Solicitor
- Singapore
- High Court
- Legal Profession Act
- Professional Conduct
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Disciplinary Proceedings | 90 |
| Legal Profession Act | 90 |
| Professional Conduct Rules | 70 |
| Civil Procedure | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Legal Ethics
- Professional Responsibility
- Judicial Conduct