Madras High Court Asks BCI, State Bar Council To Respond On Issue Of High Enrolment Fee For Law Graduates

The bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy prima facie agreed that the amount was high and issued notice on the petition. The Bar Council of India and the state government have also been issued notice by the court.

Manimaran contended that the State Bar Council was charging Rs. 11,100 from candidates belonging to the SC/ST community and Rs 14,000 from the General category. He argued that as per Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, only Rs.600 has to be paid to the Bar Council of India and Rs. 150 to the State Bar Council, totaling Rs. 750. Further, it was pointed out that as per the proviso to this section, a candidate belonging to the SC/ST community had to pay only Rs. 100 and Rs. 25 to the Bar Council of India and the State bar council respectively.

Manimaran further contended that the state bar council is committing an "illegal act" that is prejudicial to the legal profession by claiming such a high enrolment fee in total disregard to the legal position.

He also brought to the notice of the court that in Government law colleges, the tuition fee itself is not beyond Rs.500. When the Bar Council is charging such an exorbitant amount without any concession, the same would affect children coming from less privileged backgrounds, he said.

Case Title: Manimaran v. Bar Council of India and Others

Case No: WP (MD) 8756 of 2023