Kerala High Court: Bar Councils Cannot Charge Fees to Verify Certificates of Enrollment Applicants

Before the court, the petitioner challenged the said condition wherein it is stated that it is against the direction of the Supreme Court.

The Kerala High Court in the case Alan Benny v Bar Council of Kerala and Another observed and has held that the Bar Council of Kerala cannot collect money from applicants to get their certificates verified from the Universities and Examination Boards.

The court in the case observed and has held that the directions which are issued by the Bar Council of India on January 28, 2017 to Bar Councils to collect Rs 2,500 as fee from candidates for verification of certificates cannot be implemented.

The Division bench comprising of Justice Ziyad Rahman A. A. and Justice P. V. Balakrishnan was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case noted that the Supreme Court in its earlier decision had directed the Universities and Exam Boards to verify the certificates without charging any fees. As per the said decision, the requisition to get the certificates verified should be done by the respective State Bar Councils.

The High Court also considered the another decision of the Supreme Court, wherein the court held that the Bar Councils cannot charge more than the enrolment fee prescribed in Section 24 (1)(f) of the Advocates Act at the time of enrolment.