Supreme Court Expresses Shock At UP Bar Council's Alleged ₹2500 "Oral Interview" Fee For Enrollment, Directs BCI To Look Into Matter

The Supreme Court, today, expressed its shock after it was alleged that the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has 'evolved a unique method' to overcome directions of the Court by taking Rs. 2500 fees from each candidate seeking enrollment.

The Court heard the matters pertaining to the issues of various State Bar Councils taking more than statutory statutory-prescribed enrollment fee, which is in violation of the judgment passed by the Apex Court in "Gaurav Kumar vs. Union of India & Ors.” decided on 30.07.2024.

The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice PB Varale ordered, "Learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner has brought something very shocking to our notice. According to the Petitioner, the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has evolved a unique method to overcome the directions of this Court rendered in the case of Gaurav Kumar v. Union of India by taking oral interviews of the candidates seeking enrollment. For the purpose of appearing in the oral interviews, they are charging Rs. 2500 from each candidate. Issue Notice. On the next date hearing we want the Affidavit of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh on record. In the meantime, we direct the Bar Council of India to look into the matter and take up the issue with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh."

A writ petition under Article 32 of the Constituion of India was filed seeking a writ in the nature of mandamus to to the Bar Council of India and Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to wave off the fees of Rs. 14500/- for General and Other Backwards Category and Rs. 13500/- for the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in the name Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad for issuing the Certificate of Practice and Identity Card and Rs 500/- Each Year or Rs. 6000/- one-time payment for the lifetime membership in the name of Bar Council of India Collection Fund Account, Allahabad.

The Court had previously issued notice in the writ after perusing a communication dated 20.7.2025 issued by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh which said, "Keeping in view the order dated 30.07.2024 passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition No. 352/2023 Gaurav Kumar vs Union of India and Others, from among those applications submitted for Advocate Registration from 29.07.2024, about 01 year ago, those advocates who have been registered as advocates and are engaged in legal practice and who have passed the AIBE examination, in compliance with the resolution number 2687/25 passed by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, which has been approved by the Bar Council of India and a letter dated 16.07.2025 has been sent, the desired bank draft along with advocate details for COP application will be started to be deposited from 23.07.2025 and after 30 days thereof, COP certificate and identity card will be issued. You are directed to kindly get the letter and the attached proforma pasted on the notice board of the Bar Association for the information of the advocates."

The Court had ordered, "Prima facie, the communication issued by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, referred to above, is in direct conflict with the directions issued by this Court in the case of Gaurav Kumar."

Afterwards, a Contempt Petition was filed before the Court, in which the Court had observed that some of the State Bar Councils still continue to recover in excess of the statutory fee prescribed. 

Previously, it was observed, "We make it clear that in future if it is brought to our notice that any of the State Bar Council is charging beyond the statutory fee prescribed, we shall proceed to hold the responsible authority guilty of contempt. This aspect should also be highlighted by the Bar Council of India in the Circular we are asking them to issue...We also direct the Bar Council of India to inform all State Bar Councils that they cannot withhold the documents of the applicant(s) who have applied for enrollment. If any applicant(s) wants his documents back, those documents shall be immediately returned to the concerned applicant(s)."

Accordingly, the matters are now listed for a further date.

Cause Title: Deepak Yadav v. Bar Council of India & Anr [Writ Petition (Civil) No. 774/2025] and Priyadarshini Saha v. Pinaki Ranjan Banerjee [Contempt Petition (Civil) Diary No.59883/2025]