The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested that the Bar Council of India (BCI) should make it mandatory for advocates enrolled after 2010 to explicitly mention in their vakalatnama whether they have cleared the All India Bar Examination (AIBE)..2010 was the year when AIBE was first held.The suggestion was made by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan while hearing an application concerning regulatory measures for legal education and enrolment..During the hearing, CJI Khanna observed that such a rule would not only ensure greater transparency but also strengthen regulatory compliance under the Advocates Act. “Why don’t you make it mandatory in the vakalatnama itself to mention if AIBE has been passed? Why not make a rule mandating that every vakalatnama mention the enrolment number, and if the enrolment is after 2010, then let it be mentioned that AIBE is passed...You are the BCI. You are whole and soul. If someone does not do it, then it will be misconduct under the Advocates Act.” the Chief Justice asked..Bar Council of India considering allowing final year law students to write AIBE: Supreme Court told.The Court was hearing the matter in light of the Constitution Bench ruling from August 2023 which had upheld the condition that no law graduate can practice law unless they have cleared the AIBE. That ruling had also clarified that final-year law students could be permitted to appear for the exam, a relaxation implemented by the BCI in subsequent notifications..At the hearing today, the issue of enrolment fee also came up. The bench told the BCI to take a clear stand on whether it intends to file a review petition against the 2023 judgment on the question of fees collected from law colleges and law students. The matter will now proceed after the BCI makes its position clear..[Read Live Coverage]
