On Monday, the Supreme Court issued notice on a writ petition challenging the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council’s demand of ₹14,000 from advocates for issuing a certificate of practice. The petitioner argued that the levy is in direct breach of the Court’s ruling in Gaurav Kumar v. Union of India, which had expressly barred Bar Councils from imposing fees beyond those stipulated under Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
In Gaurav Kumar, the Top Court had clarified that enrolment fees cannot exceed ₹750 for general category candidates and ₹125 for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Any additional charge, whether described as “enrolment fee” or otherwise, was declared impermissible.
When the petition, filed by advocate Deepak Yadav, was first mentioned before a Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan, the Court observed that similar petitions had been repeatedly coming up despite its categorical ruling last year. Counsel for the petitioner pointed out that, prior to Gaurav Kumar, the UP Bar Council charged as high as ₹16,500 for enrolment. Though the fee was subsequently reduced, it continues to demand ₹14,000 under the guise of a “certificate of practice,” despite the Court’s directions. Reliance was also placed on an official communication issued by the Bar Council in July 2025.
Taking note of the apparent inconsistency, the Bench observed that the issue had already been settled in Gaurav Kumar and yet, the Bar Council’s communication appeared to be in direct conflict with the Court’s directions. Accordingly, it ordered issuance of notice to the respondents.
It may be recalled that earlier this year, another Bench comprising Justice Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan had reiterated that neither the Bar Council of India nor State Bar Councils are permitted to levy “optional fees” or any charges over and above the statutory enrolment fee.
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