HC allows 742 debarred lawyers to practise in courts

TNN | Updated: Nov 17, 2017, 23:42 IST

 

Chennai: A total of 742 advocates, who were debarred by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from practising before any court, got a minor reprieve on Friday, when the Madras high court allowed them to practise until further orders.

They had been debarred in view of a single judge order that those who had obtained law degree on the basis of a foundation degree under the open university system should be removed from the rolls.

Admitting a petition filed by V S Nagaraj, who moved the court to quash the Bar council decision, the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar said, "Any action taken by council is subject to the result of the writ petition. We request the council not to take any action without the leave of the court."

The council on November 11 informed that show cause notices will be issued to 742 lawyers who pursed legal education based on degrees obtained in open university and subsequently enrolled as advocates. The decision was made by the special committee of the Council, as the enrolments were allowed in violation of Legal Education Rules, 2008.

On November 11, a communication issued by the council's secretary said the special committee had passed a resolution to this effect at its meeting on November 9.