SC directs Bar Councils to conclude all ‘verification’ proceedings before 30 June; Delhi Bar Council extends last date to June 6

The Supreme Court has directed all the State Bar Councils to take necessary steps and to conclude all ‘verification ‘proceedings by 30.06.2016 and send a reply to the Bar Council of India.

Through an interim order issued on 10^th may, the Court said “It appears that the Bar Council of India has taken steps to cause an enquiry and to find out fake lawyers out of its members and/or persons who are not even members of the Bar Councils and/or members of any Bar Association of the country in accordance with the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961 and the Rules framed there under and has sought reply from the concerned State Bar Councils in this regard.”

The Court has further observed “the Bar Council of India, after receiving all the replies from the State Bar Councils, would file a status report in the matter as to what steps they have taken in this regard before the next date of hearing. We, hereby, authorize the Bar Council of India to notify all the State Bar Councils, that they must take all steps to complete the process before 30.06.2016.”

In a related development, the Bar Council of Delhi has extended the last date for submitting Verification forms by the members to 6^th June 2016. This extension is in regard to the requests from various bar associations for a reasonable extension of the last date of 15.05.2016 for submitting the application forms with the completing of requisite formalities. The Council, noticing that certain SMSes are being circulated saying that the last date has been extended up to 20.6.2016, requested the members to not circulate such misinformation.

Read the order here.