(1) Where a party has, before the first hearing of a proceeding, engaged more than one pleader, the fees of two pleaders may be taxed in the bill of costs in the following cases:-
(a) in any original suit, of which the amount or value of the subjectmatter exceeds Rs. 2[10,000], in any court subordinate to the High Court;
(b) in any contested proceeding under the 2Indian Succession Act, 1865, the 3Probate and Administration Act, 1881, or the 4Land Acquisition Act, 1894, of which the amount or value of the subject-matter exceeds [Rs. 10,000, in any court subordinate to the High Court;
(c) in any appeal to the High Court, from a decree deciding on the merits any suit or any contested proceeding of the kind referred to in clause (a) or clause (b);
(d) in any suit of which the amount or value of the subject-matter 1[is Rs.10,000 or less] where the court certifies by order in writing that the fees of two pleaders may be taxed;
Provided that nothing in this section shall affect suits or appeals by paupers, or suits or appeals governed by the Dekkhan Agriculturists Relief Act, 1879.
(2) Except in the cases specified in this section, a party employing more than one pleader shall not be entitled to recover from his adversary more than one set of pleader’s fees.
21. Where in any proceeding there are several parties having the same interest or putting forward the same defence they shall not, if awarded costs, be allowed more than one set of pleaders’ fees on party and party taxation unless the Court otherwise directs.
22. In any civil appeal or application to the High Court from the decree or order of a court, subordinate to the High Court, if costs between party and party are awarded by the High Court, such costs shall be taxed by an officer of the High Court and included in the bill of costs attached to the decree or order of that Court in the prescribed manner.
23. In any court subordinate to the High Court situate elsewhere than in 2[the Greater Bombay], the amount of the pleader’s fee to be taxed in the bill of costs attached to the decree or order of that Court shall not be in excess of the amount computed in accordance with the rules in Schedule III;
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to bills of costs framed under the provisions of the 3Indian Companies Act, 1913.
24. The High Court may suspected or remove from practice a pleader who has been convicted by any criminal court in *4India of a criminal offence implying a defect in his character which in the opinion of the High Court renders him unfit to be pleader.
25. On the application of the Government Pleader in the High Court, or on a report from a District Court of Session, or from the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes of Bombay, or from the Chief Presidency Magistrate for Bombay, or otherwise, the High Court may suspend or remove from practice, or may fine or reprimand, a pleader on reasonable cause.
26. Wherein appears to a District Court or Court of Session or to the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes of Bombay, or to the Chief Presidency Magistrate for Bombay, that a pleader has been guilty of neglect of duty or of a violation of any of the provisions of this Act or of any other improper conduct, such court may hold an inquiry regarding such conduct and report the result of such inquiry to the High Court.