Disciplinary Record - Basharat Ali Ditta

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 41)

Outcome date: 24 March 2025

Published date: 8 April 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Drummond Solicitors Limited

Address(es): 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford BD1 5DL

Firm ID: 621578

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Basharat Ditta was struck off the Roll of Solicitors by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, on 20 January 2015. In accordance with Section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (the Act), any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate him in connection with their practise as a solicitor must first obtain the SRA's approval.

On 24 May 2023, Drummond Solicitors Limited were granted permission under the Act to employ Mr Ditta, subject to conditions including one that stated that any variation to the terms of his employment must be notified to and approved by the SRA first.

Drummond Solicitors Limited have applied to vary the terms of Mr Ditta's employment. This has been granted and Mr Ditta's employment as a legal clerk, is now approved subject to the following conditions:

1. Mr Ditta's work at all times will be directly supervised by Arshad Mahmood (SRA number 296397).
2. Mr Ditta's employment is limited to that described in the section 41 approval of employment application form received on 2 November 2022 and Mr Mahmood's emails dated 23 January 2023, 6 January 2025 and 4 March 2025. 
3. Mr Ditta shall not have responsibility for or be involved in the training, supervision, or compliance of any other employee at Drummond Solicitors Limited. 
4. Mr Ditta may only conduct interviews with clients or take instructions from clients under the direct supervision of Arshad Mahmood. 
5. Mr Ditta must not be held out as a solicitor. His status as a non-solicitor must be made clear to clients. 
6. Mr Ditta is not able to attend the firm's office without the named supervisor being present to supervise him except for one day per week when he will not have client contact either personally, by email or telephone. 
7. Mr Ditta's files will be reviewed on a fortnightly basis for the first six months, following this all files will be reviewed on a monthly basis. 
8. Mr Ditta is only permitted to work at the firm's head office based at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford, BD1 5DL and also allowed to work from home three times per week when the work will be non-client facing either directly or through email or telephone. 
9. The supervision arrangements and job description may not be varied without our prior written approval. 
10. This approval will lapse if Mr Ditta's employment with Drummond Solicitors Limited is terminated. 
11. This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the absolute discretion of the SRA.

Reasons/basis

Basharat Ditta  was struck off the Roll of Solicitors by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, on 20 January 2015. In accordance with Section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (the Act), any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate him in connection with their practise as a solicitor must first obtain the SRA’s approval.

The SRA is satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interest of clients at risk.

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 41)

Outcome date: 25 April 2023

Published date: 18 July 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Drummonds Solicitors Limited

Address(es): 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford, BD1 5DL, England

Firm ID: 621578

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Drummond Solicitors Limited has been granted permission under section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to employ Basharat Ditta as a legal clerk, subject to the following conditions:

1. Mr Ditta’s work at all times will be directly supervised by Arshad Mahmood (SRA number 296397).
2. Mr Ditta’s employment is limited to that described in the section 41 approval of employment application form received on 2 November 2022 and Mr Mahmood’s email dated 23 January 2023.
3. Mr Ditta shall not have responsibility for or be involved in the training, supervision, or compliance of any other employee at Drummond Solicitors Limited.
4. Mr Ditta may only conduct interviews with clients or take instructions from clients under the direct supervision of Arshad Mahmood.
5. Mr Ditta must not be held out as a solicitor. His status as a non-solicitor must be made clear to clients.
6. Mr Ditta is not able to attend the firm’s office without one of the named supervisor’s being present to supervise him.
7. Mr Ditta’s files will be reviewed on a fortnightly basis for the first 6 months, following this all files will be reviewed on a monthly basis.
8. Mr Ditta is only permitted to work at the firm’s head office based at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford, BD1 5DL.
9. The supervision arrangements and job description may not be varied without our prior written approval.
10. This approval will lapse if Mr Ditta’s employment with Drummond Solicitors Limited is terminated.
11. This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the absolute discretion of the SRA

Reasons/basis

In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.

Basharat Ditta was struck of the roll of solicitors on 20 January 2015. In accordance with section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974, any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate him in connection with their practise as a solicitor must obtain our approval. We are satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interests of clients at risk.

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 28 May 2012

Published date: 21 November 2013

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Forbes

Address(es): 73 Northgate, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 1AA

Firm ID: 046412

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer.

The matter was heard on 20 January 2015.

Mr Ditta was Struck Off the Roll.

A full copy of the Judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk