The petitioner, a 2023 graduate of the Benaras Hindu University's Faculty of Law, said that he has to pay enrollment fees of ₹16,665 with an additional ₹5,000 charge for expedited processing within one day.In response to the CJI's query on what fees would be reasonable, the petitioner stated that only ₹750 should be charged as per Advocates Act.Accordingly, the Court issued notice and listed the matter for hearing in two weeks.Notably, on July 18 last year, the Supreme Court had transferred to itself petitions pending before various High Court challenging the enrolment fees levied by different State Bar Councils.The order was passed on a petition moved by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to transfer all such cases to the apex court.In its transfer petition, the BCI had pointed out that there were cases pending before the High Courts of Kerala, Madras and Bombay on this issue.The BCI had submitted that the pleas before various High Courts deal with the same questions of law relating to the constitutional validity of fees chargeable at the time of enrolment. It emphasised that transferring the petitions would prevent the wastage of judicial time and that the matter could be authoritatively decided by the top court.Further, the Telangana High Court had on November 9, 2023, issued notice on a similar plea related to the Bar Council for the State of Telangana (BCST) which charges ₹27,500 as enrolment fees.
TAGS: Supreme Court Notice UP Bar Council Plea Advocate Enrollment Fees Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud
