Nithyakalyani Narayanan. V
The Delhi High Court held that the notification released by the Bar Council of Delhi for enrolment with the Council, which makes it mandatory to have a Delhi-NCR address on the Aadhar and Voter Identity Card, needs to be struck down immediately.
The Bench questioned the Council on how it can bar the non-residents of Delhi, from seeking enrolment. “Suppose I am saying in Ramanathapuram, I stay in Silchar or Kachchh or Mehsana. What will I do? I have to earn my bread, come here and practise.”
Justice Subramonium Prasad highlighted that Delhi is a good place to pursue law and therefore many aspirants come here for the same.
The court was hearing a plea filed by an advocate, who challenged the notification as it is discriminatory to bar people from outside NCR to enrol in Delhi and practicing here.
The Council released a circular in April 2023 stating that fresh law graduates looking to enrol in the national capital will need to compulsorily attach their Aadhaar and Voter ID card copies bearing an address in Delhi/NCR and that no enrolments will take place without these documents. This was different from the earlier rule to show a self-attested copy of a rent agreement showing the Delhi address sufficient for address proof enabling enrolment.