Karnataka HC Orders Refund Of Excess Enrolment Fee Collected By State Bar Council

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Bar Council to refund excess enrolment fees collected from an advocate beyond the statutory ₹750 prescribed under Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, 1961. 

The Court noted that the Bar Council had been charging an additional ₹6,800 as “optional fees.” 

Relying on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Gaurav Kumar v. Union of India (2024), the Court held such collections illegal. 

The Bar Council was also cautioned against collecting any fee contrary to law in the future.