Jahanvi Agarwal
On 2nd February 2024, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in response to a plea challenging the exorbitant fees imposed for enrollment as an advocate. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra sought the response of the UP-Bar Council and listed the plea for hearing after two weeks.
The petitioner, a 2023 graduate from Benaras Hindu University’s Faculty of Law, highlighted the financial burden of enrollment fees, which amount to Rs.16,665, with an additional Rs.5,000 charge for expedited processing within one day. When the CJI asked the petitioner as to the ideal amount, he replied “Rs. 750 as per the Advocates Act”.
This move follows a previous decision by the Supreme Court on July 18 last year, wherein it transferred petitions from various High Courts challenging enrollment fees levied by different State Bar Councils. The BCI had sought the transfer, citing similar legal questions across different High Courts, emphasizing the need to prevent the wastage of judicial time and seeking an authoritative decision from the apex court.
It’s noteworthy that the Telangana High Court had also issued notice on November 9, 2023, regarding a similar plea related to the Bar Council for the State of Telangana, which charges Rs.27,500 as enrollment fees. The matter remains under consideration in various jurisdictions, highlighting the broader concerns surrounding the constitutional validity of fees charged during the enrollment process.
Case Name: Kuldeep Mishra v. Bar Council Of Uttar Pradesh.
Dairy Number: 000024/2024
Bench: CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra