New Delhi,Oct, 27
Bar Council of India (BCI) has removed 107 fake advocates from its roll during 2019 to October 2024 as part of its ongoing effort to maintain the integrity and professionalism of the legal community.
“This decisive action is aimed at eliminating fake advocates and those who no longer meet the standards of legal practice. By doing so, the BCI has tried to continue to protect the public’s trust and the legal system itself from unethical practices,” BCI Secretary Srimanto Sen said.
“In light of the meticulous scrutiny that is now in place, many advocates who are aware of their fraudulent or non-compliant status have pre-emptively surrendered their enrolment certificates, fearing exposure. However, the Bar Council urges all State Bar Councils to exercise caution when accepting such surrenders,” a BCI release quoted Sen as having said.
The process is being conducted under Rule 32 of the Bar Council of India Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015, with a critical amendment to Rule 32 notified on 23rd June 2023, it said.
The amendment has further strengthened the verification framework, allowing the bar council to more effectively and systematically identify and remove unqualified/fake advocates from its Roll, the BCI said, adding the amended rule has proven to be a crucial step in creating a legal profession built on transparency and accountability.
“The total of 107 latest removals reflects the combination of several hundreds of advocates being removed before 23rd June 2023. Fifty advocates have been removed after the amendment. This breakdown clearly highlights the progress made in increasing the efficiency and thoroughness of the verification process, thanks in large part to the June 2023 amendment,” the BCI statement read.
