Extinguishment of the substratum of disciplinary proceedings upon amicable settlement

When the dispute between a litigant and an advocate has arisen out of a mutual misunderstanding or procedural delay and is subsequently resolved through an amicable settlement, the factual and legal foundation of the disciplinary complaint ceases to exist. If the complainant files a duly sworn affidavit affirming complete satisfaction with the advocate's professional services and expressly desires to withdraw the disciplinary complaint, the essential substratum that warranted the inquiry stands dismantled. A disciplinary committee commits a manifest error of jurisdiction and assessment when it proceeds to penalize an advocate while completely ignoring that the complainant has voluntarily terminated their grievance and suffered no enduring legal prejudice. (Monty Goyal Vs Navrang Singh | 2026 INSC 94).