The Supreme Court of India has raised alarms about the prevalence of fake advocates, estimating that 20% of the 1.5 million practitioners may lack valid qualifications. Criticizing the Bar Council of India’s slow verification process begun in 2015, the court demands timely action to protect the legal profession’s integrity and restore public trust.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns about the persistent issue of fake advocates within the legal system, a problem that has lingered for nearly a decade. With approximately 1.5 million advocates practicing across India, alarming estimates suggest that nearly 20% of them may lack valid legal qualifications.
During a hearing on Thursday, a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, criticized the prolonged verification process initiated by the Bar Council of India (BCI) in 2015. Highlighting the critical nature of the issue, the court stressed that the process “cannot be an endless exercise” and demanded a clear timeline to resolve the matter.
Shocking Revelations of Fake Advocates
The urgency of the problem was underscored back in 2015 when BCI Chief Manan Mishra revealed that a significant number of unqualified individuals were practicing law. Recent updates from the verification drive confirm these fears, with over 1,000 fake lawyers uncovered in states like Delhi and Punjab.
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In one startling instance, the Bar Council of Delhi discovered 117 advocates using fraudulent credentials, many of whom had submitted bogus degrees from Bundelkhand University. Such revelations have shaken the legal community, highlighting the pressing need to protect the integrity of the profession.
Supreme Court’s Directives to the BCI
The Supreme Court expressed frustration over the slow progress of the verification drive, noting that such delays could harm litigants and tarnish the reputation of the judiciary. BCI counsel R Balasubramanian explained that the process involves meticulous state-wise verification, contributing to the delays.
However, the court has now issued a directive for the BCI to submit a comprehensive status report within eight weeks, urging swift action to complete the verification process. The bench emphasized the critical need to safeguard the integrity of the legal profession and protect the public from being deceived by fraudulent practitioners.
A Call for Reform
This judgment marks a pivotal moment in the legal system’s efforts to address the fake advocate menace. By expediting the verification process, the judiciary aims to ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed to practice law, thereby restoring trust in the legal profession and protecting the rights of litigants.
Case Title: BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA vs. POONAM ASHOK GOUD| Diary No. – 54008/2023
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