Watch Instagram Reel That Led To Bar Council Of Kerala Issuing Show Cause Notice To Newly Enrolled Advocate
The Bar Council of Kerala has initiated suo-motu action by issuing a show cause notice to Advocate Mohammed Fayiz, who made and uploaded an Instagram Reel that includes a High Court Judge's vehicle, in relation to his Enrollment Day.
The notice, issued under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961, calls upon Mohammed to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
The Reel starts with the frame of a High Court Judge’s white car’s number plate, including the insignia on a High Court Judge's car, and then cuts to the Advocate stepping out of a different black car on his way to the enrollment function.
According to the notice, the Advocate got enrolled on the Rolls of the Bar Council of Kerala on June 1, 2025. Just three days later, on June 4, 2025, a video was seen widely circulated in WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. This video reportedly showed a white car, which is an official vehicle of a Judge of the Kerala High Court and later included the visuals of the enrolment function and other visuals.
The above video was first published on the Instagram account of Mohammed and was later taken down. However, the same was later shared by others on social media, and even the mainstream media published the same.
The Bar Council of Kerala asserted that "The aforesaid video amounts to advertising and soliciting which is demeaning the dignity of the judiciary." The Notice issued further stated that "The intention of usage of the visuals of the official vehicle of a Judge of the Hon'ble High Court of Kerala is ill-motivated, malicious and mischievous against the judiciary."
The Bar Council of Kerala in its Notice stated that it "prima facie is of the impression that your aforesaid act amounts to misconduct and would be liable to be proceeded against you under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961."
The Advocate was "therefore called upon to show cause as to why action as contemplated under Section 35 of the Advocates Act of 1961 should not be initiated against you, within 15 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this notice."
Yet another photograph that is circulating on social media is that of a hoarding, claiming to be put up by the Indian National Congress, announcing the enrolment of Advocate Mohammed Fayiz, who, as per the said hoarding, is the District Vice-President of the Kerala Students' Union (KSU), the students' wing of the Congress.