Question : Registration with Bar Councils

(a) whether any cases of alleged irregularities in the various Judicial Services Examinations held across the country have been reported during the last three years and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon;

(b) whether the Supreme Court has urged the Government to introduce an entrance test for law graduates for their registration with the Bar Councils in the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the implementation status thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to amend the existing provisions in order to make selection process of advocates more stringent in view of the cases of fake degrees and declining standards of legal profession in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) Grievances/complaints have been received from the general public about irregularities in the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, 2014 and some instances of irregularities in the Judicial Services Examination in Rajasthan, Odisha and Punjab and Haryana. These grievances have been forwarded to the respective High Courts for action, as appropriate. The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court has informed that the alleged irregularities are unsubstantiated.


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(b) and (c) : No, Madam. However, the Supreme Court has referred petitions to a Constitution Bench, inter-ralia, challenging the power of the Bar Council of India to conduct entrance tests.
(d) and (e) : The Bar Council of India, with one of the objectives to identify the fake lawyers practicing law, has introduced Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015. One of the aims of these Rules is to identify the advocates registered with various State Bar Councils having fake degree and weed out such advocates and others who have left practice or doing any other business/profession. Under the provisions of these Rules, there will be a verification of details of an advocate enrolled in the State Bar Council, every five years. These Rules are being implemented with effect from 13th Jan.,2015 and the last date for submitting applications has been given as 30th June, 2016.

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