Stakeholder Declaration

Any State Bar Council, Bar Association, chamber, law firm, Centre of Legal Education, legal aid body or other institutional stakeholder named in the circular — executed on behalf of the institution by its head, secretary, managing partner, principal or equivalent authorised officer, not by an individual advocate in a personal capacity.

As soon as practicable after the institution has circulated and sensitised its members or students on the circular, so the declaration reflects a completed step rather than a promise to act later. Institutions are encouraged, though not compelled, to execute and retain it for their own compliance record.

Full name of the State Bar Council, Bar Association, chamber, law firm, Centre of Legal Education or other body executing the declaration, along with its registration or affiliation details where applicable.

A short statement of who the institution represents — enrolled advocates, chamber members, law firm staff, students and faculty, or interns — so the scope of the adoption is clear.

A recorded resolution or institutional decision — passed by the Bar Association’s managing committee, the Centre of Legal Education’s administration, or the chamber’s senior partner(s) — confirming that the circular’s digital ethics and social media conduct principles have been adopted as institutional policy.

Name, designation and contact details of the individual (or committee) appointed to receive complaints, preserve evidence, counsel first-time violators and refer serious or repeat matters to the appropriate disciplinary or academic authority.

An acknowledgment that the circular has been, and will continue to be, actively and individually communicated to every enrolled advocate, member, student, faculty member and intern — not merely posted on a website or forwarded once through a WhatsApp or email group.

A commitment to conduct periodic orientation or sensitisation sessions on digital ethics, court decorum, confidentiality and AI/deepfake misuse, particularly before students or interns are sent to courts, chambers, law firms or tribunals.

Confirmation that a simple channel — an email address, online form or designated contact — exists for receiving complaints about reels, deepfakes, misuse of professional identity or confidentiality breaches, and that the institution will preserve evidence and respond proportionately.

An undertaking to maintain records of undertakings obtained, sensitisation sessions held and complaints handled, so that these can be produced for inspection by the BCI or the relevant State Bar Council if requested.

An acknowledgment that this mechanism exists for education, reporting and proportionate referral only — and will not be used for personal rivalry, moral policing, suppression of lawful criticism or acting on unproven allegations.

Date of execution, and the name, designation and signature of the officer authorised to bind the institution to this declaration.