News Date: 10 Apr, 2023, 12:19 pm IST
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from State Bar Councils on a plea challenging the non-uniform and exorbitant enrolment fees collected by different State Bar Councils.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said that the issue was important and, therefore, granted petitioner the liberty to the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition on Bar Council of India (BCI) as well.
“This is a significant issue. It says enrollment fees is a violation of Section 24 of Advocates Act and that BCI should ensure exorbitant enrollment fees should not be charged,” the bench remarked.
The Court further noted petitioner Gaurav Kumar’s submission as regards the stark difference in enrolment fees across States.
“Petitioner says it is 42,000 in Odisha whereas 20,000 in Kerala and thus denies lawyers the opportunity who do not have the resources,” it remarked.
“Issue notice. Liberty to serve the Bar Council of India,” the bench ordered.
Recently, the BCI had informed the Punjab & Haryana High Court that it would take necessary steps to deal with the issue of exorbitant enrolment fees charged by State Bar Councils.
The Kerala High Court is also hearing a plea by ten law graduates challenging the fees in excess of ₹15,000 charged by the Bar Council of Kerala for enrolment.
