New Delhi, July 30 (Udaipur Kiran): In a significant relief for lawyers, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Bar Council of India and state bar councils cannot charge exorbitant registration fees from lawyers. The bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, stated that according to the Advocates Act, the registration fee for lawyers is set at ₹750 for general category and ₹125 for SC/ST category. Therefore, the bar councils cannot demand higher fees for registration.
The Supreme Court highlighted that as per Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, no additional amount can be charged from lawyers beyond the prescribed fees. Specifically, the state bar councils can charge ₹600 and the Bar Council of India ₹150 from general category lawyers, whereas for SC/ST category lawyers, the fees are ₹100 and ₹25, respectively.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the fees set by the Parliament must be adhered to, and the bar councils cannot violate these regulations. The court clarified that this order applies to new registrations and not to lawyers who are already registered. The ruling came in response to several petitions challenging the exorbitant fees demanded by state bar councils for lawyer registrations.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.