In a significant legal development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday asked for responses from both the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the State Bar Council concerning a petition filed by the Kurnool Bar Association. The association is challenging a recent circular that imposes a Rs 500 fee for the verification or renewal of the Certificate of Practice for lawyers.
Justice Venkateswarlu Nimmagadda, presiding over the matter, issued notices to both the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh and the Bar Council of India, scheduling the next hearing for December 19, 2024. The controversy stems from a circular issued in July by the State Bar Council following a directive from the BCI in January, which instructed local bar associations to collect the fee between July 15 and September 15, 2024, through SBI Challan.
According to the circular, lawyers must submit Verification Applications (Form “A”) along with five vakalatnamas or order sheets. This has sparked considerable opposition, especially among younger lawyers who often practice under seniors and find it difficult to gather the required documents.
The Kurnool Bar Association has been vocal in its opposition, citing the fee as exorbitant and the requirement for five vakalatnamas as particularly burdensome for new lawyers. The Association’s grievance led to its decision to seek judicial intervention from the High Court.
At a General Body Meeting held by the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on July 21, it was decided to form a committee to review the rules and directives concerning the verification process. This committee was tasked with seeking further clarification from the BCI, particularly concerning the necessity of submitting five vakalatnamas, which the BCI insists is crucial to identify non-practicing advocates.
Despite these discussions and the formation of the committee, the fee was neither revised nor the circular withdrawn, leading to continued dissatisfaction within the legal community. The petitioner argues that the imposition of the Rs 500 fee and the mandatory submission of five vakalatnamas contravene the Bar Council of India Certificate & Place Of Practice (Verification) Rules 2015 and the Advocates Act 1961, asserting that it violates Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.
