The Karnataka High Court has directed the Karnataka State Bar Council to develop a mechanism within 45 days to identify lawyers practicing without clearing the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) within the stipulated time. The order reinforces regulatory oversight in the legal profession.
Karnataka HC Directs Bar Council to Identify Unauthorized Practitioners
The Karnataka High Court has ordered the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) to establish a mechanism for identifying advocates who are practicing law without having cleared the mandatory All India Bar Examination (AIBE) within the prescribed period. Justice HP Sandesh issued the directive in line with an earlier order dated October 17, giving KSBC 45 days to implement the system.
The Court emphasized that the KSBC’s responsibilities extend beyond enrollment to ensuring compliance with professional standards. “It is not the only duty of the Karnataka State Bar Council to enroll and it is also the duty of the State Bar Council to ensure that only eligible advocates practise,” the Bench observed. Unauthorized practice undermines the integrity of the legal profession and public trust in legal services.
The directive will likely lead to database audits and integration with AIBE records from the Bar Council of India. For law firms and solo practitioners, this underscores the importance of verifying credentials. The move strengthens regulatory enforcement and may prompt similar actions in other states to curb unauthorized legal practice.
