Lawyers attached to the Madras High Court have strongly opposed the recent amendments proposed by the Bar Council of India, alleging that the move would undermine the autonomy and independent functioning of State Bar Councils.
Addressing reporters in Puducherry, advocate Velmurugan said that under the Advocates Act, 1961, the 25 elected members of a State Bar Council elect from among themselves a representative to the Bar Council of India. This procedure, he said, has been in practice for several decades.
However, under the new rules proposed by the Bar Council of India, members from other States at the national level would also participate in determining a State’s representative, he claimed. This would effectively dilute the powers of the 25 elected members of the respective State Bar Council.
Velmurugan contended that allowing out-of-state members to influence the selection of a State’s representative amounts to curtailing the independence of State Bar Councils and could affect their unique functions.
He urged the Bar Council of India to immediately withdraw what he termed an arbitrary amendment. Stating that the proposal is yet to be enforced, he warned that if implemented, legal action would be initiated in the Supreme Court challenging the move.
