HC disposes plea over hefty fee being charged by Bar Council for new advocates

The PIL had been filed by a 28-year-old Advocate, Advocate Pardhuman Garg, registered with the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, concerning the fee of Rs 16400 charged by the Bar
Council of Punjab and Haryana (BCPH) for enrolment of the new Advocates.

The petitioner had submitted that the section 24 (1) (f) of the Advocates Act, 1961, provides that for being admitted as an advocate, a person has to pay Rs 600 to the State Bar council and Rs 150 to the Bar Council of India. However, contrary to the legislative mandate, the Bar council of Punjab and Haryana charges an additional fee of Rs 8600 as enrolment fee, Rs 1050 in favour of Bar council of India, Rs 1000 as building fund and Rs 5000 as welfare and insurance fund. The total enrolment fee which is charged by the Bar council of Punjab and Haryana to be enrolled as an advocate comes to be Rs 16400, furthermore the respondent council charges an additional amount of Rs 5000 towards circulation fee, in case, an applicant wishes to get himself enrolled on the same day on which he applied for the issuance of license.

The petition has thus argued that such an additional and exorbitant levy of an additional enrolment and circulation fee is illegal, arbitrary, and de-hors the provision of advocates act.

The counsel appearing for BCI and BCPH, submitted before the HC that they would be taking up the necessary steps pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court and appropriate decision in the matter shall be taken expeditiously and in view of the judgment of Supreme Court in Bar Council of India (supra).

The Bench thus on the statement of the respondents, disposed of the plea.