State Bar Council Cannot Deny Enrollment To Advocate With Law Degree Completed From Outside State: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that State Bar Council cannot deny enrollment to an Advocate who obtained the law degree from institutions outside the State.

The Court was considering a Writ Petition seeking direction to Karnataka State Bar Council to enroll the Petitioner as an advocate on its rolls, as per the Advocates Act, 1961 and the rules framed thereunder.

The bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj observed, "......the petitioner has passed out of a college which is affiliated to respondent No.1 and there being no restriction or requirement for the State Bar Council to register only persons who have passed out within that particular State and in view of Section 24 of the Advocates Act."

The Petitioner was represented by Advocate Vaibhav Ravi Malimath while the Respondent was represented by Advocate Anubha Srivastava.

On an enquiry with the Counsel for Bar Council of India, as to whether there is any restriction for such enrolment, she submitted that there is no such restriction and any person who has passed out of any Law colleges across the country could be registered with the State Bar council where such person intends to practice in terms of Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

She further submitted that it is only if transfer of registration is required to be done, certain procedures would be required to be followed.

The Petition was accordingly allowed.

Cause Title: Sri Rajashekar v. Bar Council of India (2025:KHC:42704)

Appearances:

Petitioner- Advocate Vaibhav Ravi Malimath

Respondent- Advocates Anubha Srivastava, T.P. Vivekananda

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