Bar Council cannot charge certificate verification fees for enrollment : Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court ruled that State Bar Councils cannot charge ₹2,500 for verifying educational certificates during bar enrollment, citing the Supreme Court judgment in Ajay Shankar Srivastava v. BCI.

The Court held that universities must verify certificates free of charge, and Bar Councils cannot impose fees beyond enrollment charges under Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, 1961.

The Court invalidated the Bar Council of India’s 2017 notice mandating such fees, directing Benny's enrollment without additional fees.

Verification must proceed without charge, and enrollment can be revoked if certificates are later found invalid.