Enrolment fees for lawyers cannot exceed Rs. 600: SC while reserving judgment on petitions challenging enrolment fees charged by different State Bar Councils

On April 22, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) of India reserved judgment on petitions challenging the enrolment fees charged by different State Bar Councils. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala reiterated that enrolment fees for lawyers cannot exceed Rs. 600, prescribed as per Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, 1961. The CJI remarked, “The statute has made it clear that nothing can be charged more than Rs. 600.” He added, “If you want to increase the enrolment fee, then it is for Parliament to increase the enrolment fee.” Furthermore, the SC bench noted that there was a lack of uniformity in the fees charged by different State Bar Councils as some states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, etc., charge Rs. 15,000 whereas Rs. 41,000 is charged by states like Odisha. 

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra (Chairman of the Bar Council of India) and Senior Advocate S. Prabhakaran (Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of India) appeared for the Bar Council of India whereas Senior Advocate Raghent Basant appeared for the petitioners. While hearing the matter, the bench pointed out that the legal question under consideration was whether the Bar Councils can charge anything above the statutorily prescribed amount. CJI Chandrachud said, “It is for parliament to increase the enrolment fee. It is a valid point you raised on the various expenses to rum the state bar councils…but, the statute is very clear that enrolment you cannot charge more Rs. 600.” After hearing the contentions from both sides, the SC reserved the judgment.