Landmark Supreme Court verdict: In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court ordered a reduction in the Bar Council enrolment fee for lawyers across the country, a decision that has been widely welcomed, especially by young lawyers and law students.
Higher fees were a financial burden for law students
Students commencing a career in the field of law in India are required to register with the Bar Council. Presently, this registration fee varies by state and has posed a financial burden for many students. Numerous lawyer associations and students have consistently highlighted this issue, leading to the matter being brought before the Supreme Court.
Petition and arguments on the issue
Landmark Supreme Court verdict: The lead counsel who filed the petition on the issue told the court that the high registration fee has become a major deterrent for students, especially for those who come from economically weaker backgrounds. He argued that it is necessary to make entry into the profession of lawyers equitable and accessible to all, and the high fee is contrary to this objective.
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The Supreme Court’s verdict
Chief Justice D.Y. While delivering the verdict, the bench headed by Chandrachud said that reduction in the registration fee of the Bar Council is necessary so that more and more young lawyers can enter this profession. The court directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to issue necessary guidelines to all the state bar councils to reduce the registration fee as much as possible.
Supreme Court’s New Guidelines
The Supreme Court said on Tuesday that the State Bar Council cannot charge more fees than the prescribed provision for registration of law graduates as lawyers. A fee of Rs 650 can be charged from the general category and Rs 125 from the law graduates of SC/ST category.
Landmark Supreme Court verdict: During the hearing, the court said, “The petitioner alleges that this fee is 42,100 in Orissa, 25,000 in Gujarat, 23,650 in Uttarakhand, while it is 20,050 in Kerala. In such a situation, the youth who are unable to pay such fees are not able to get registered.”
Reactions of law students and lawyers
The law students and lawyers community have expressed happiness over this decision of the Supreme Court. Rohit Sharma, the President of Law Students Association, Delhi University, said, “This is a historic decision that will make entry into the judicial system more accessible. This move is a big relief for the students.”
Manan Kumar Mishra, the President of Bar Council of India, said, “We respect the order of the Supreme Court and will act on it soon. Our aim has always been to make the profession of lawyers more inclusive and accessible.”
Impact of the verdict
This decision of the supreme court will not only make the entry into the profession of lawyers easier but it will also promote diversity and inclusiveness in the judicial system. In the future, this will not only benefit the students but will also strengthen the entire judicial system.
