Bengaluru: The high court directed the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) to consider applications from law graduates of other states, provided their certificates are properly verified.The order was issued by Justice Suraj Govindaraj while granting relief to Rajashekar, a law graduate from Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district, who completed his degree at Monad University’s Faculty of Law in Uttar Pradesh. His application for enrolment as an advocate in Karnataka had been overlooked by the KSBC, prompting him to approach the high court.During the hearing, the Bar Council of India submitted that any person who has graduated from any law college across the country could be registered with the state bar council where they intend to practise, in terms of section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961. It is only if a transfer of registration is required that certain procedures need to be followed. The institute from where the petitioner graduated has been granted affiliation by the Bar Council of India, the court was further informed.In view of this submission, the court observed that there is no restriction or requirement for a state bar council to register only those who graduated within that particular state. “In light of section 24 of the Advocates Act, the KSBC shall enrol the petitioner as an advocate on its roll, on the next enrolment date,” Justice Suraj Govindaraj directed, while allowing the petition.
