Sarjit Singh S/O Mehar Singh

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The respondent, a sole proprietor solicitor, was engaged to recover outstanding salary for a client. He received a settlement cheque from the employer, concealed it, deposited it into his firm's account for his own use, and forged a writ to deceive the client. He was convicted of criminal breach of trust under s 409 Penal Code (sentence enhanced on revision to three years' imprisonment). The Law Society applied to make absolute the order to show cause. The High Court found the dishonesty offence committed in his capacity as solicitor was sufficient to establish due cause, held mitigation was of virtually negligible weight in cases of proven dishonesty, and struck him off the roll, ordering him to bear costs.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Personal probity and fitness to practise

Aggravating factors:

• Concealed from client that he had received settlement moneys
• Directed client's moneys to his own use
• Falsified/forged a writ of summons with forged signature of deputy registrar to deceive client and cover his tracks
• Cheated a client he was meant to serve