Supreme Court Issues Notice to BCI on Plea Against Rule Barring Advocates With Pending Criminal Cases

The Supreme Court sought responses from the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Telangana on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Rule 4 of the Bar Council of India Rules, 2023.

The plea was filed after an advocate’s nomination for State Bar Council elections was rejected under the Bar Council of India Rules, 2023.

The Rule disqualifies advocates from contesting Bar Council elections if two or more serious criminal cases are pending against them. The petitioner argued that disqualification based solely on pendency of criminal cases violates the principle of presumption of innocence.

The Court issued notice and posted the matter for further hearing.