Bar councils should verify authenticity of aspiring lawyers: Delhi HC

The Delhi high court suggested that the Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils verify the authenticity of an applicant before enrolling a person.

The court also suggested that the concerned council should call for a record of the applicant's attendance besides verifying the authenticity of the law degree certificate issued by the university.

"It is important for the State Bar Councils to deal with applications made for enrolment of a person as an advocate with care and attention," said justice S Muralidhar in a judgement while dismissing the plea of a man, who was convicted by a court in Punjab and Haryana, challenging the Bar Council of India's order rejecting his application for enrolment.

"Each State Bar Council should preferably maintain a website with details of all pending applications for enrolment...," said the court and asked the councils to incorporate a clause in the application form.

One Yogendra Prakash Jauhari, who was sacked from government job following his conviction on corruption charge, obtained a law degree from a college in Aligarh and had applied for enrolment in Punjab and Harayana Bar Council.

The Council, had rejected his application for enrolment. After concealing the fact, he had got enrolled with the Delhi Bar Council.

The Punjab and Harayana Bar council filed a complaint with BCI against Jauhari seeking cancellation of his enrolment. In February 2006, BCI had passed a resolution recommending removal of Jauhari's name from the rolls of BCD.