The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has submitted an urgent representation to the Ministry of Law & Justice seeking a legislative amendment to Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, 1961 in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. This request follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Gaurav Kumar v. Union of India, 2024 INSC 558, which held that State Bar Councils cannot collect any amount beyond the statutory enrolment fee of ₹750 fixed in 1993.
The Council has highlighted that the 30-year-old fee structure is no longer sustainable in view of rising administrative costs, technological requirements, verification processes, and welfare obligations. Since State Bar Councils receive no financial grants from the Government, strict adherence to the outdated cap has created immediate financial strain and threatens essential regulatory and welfare functions.
Given that only Parliament can revise the statutory fee and has done so earlier in 1973 and 1993, the Council has requested the introduction of a short Amendment Bill to rationalise and update the enrolment fee structure in line with current economic realities.
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