KOCHI: The Bar Council of Kerala (BCK) on Saturday decided to implement ‘Certificate of Practice’ for advocates mandated under Bar Council of India Certificate of Practice and Renewal Rules, 2014, next week.
In a meeting held here, BCK office-bearers decided to invite applications from all advocates practicing in different courts in the state, next week. BCK chairman T H Abdul Azeez said that the BCK will collect applications through respective bar associations or the advocates can directly submit applications with the authorisation of bar council members. “The meeting also decided to circulate the Rule to all bar associations for its compliance,” Azeez said.
The Bar Council of Kerala pointed out that after the Certificate of Enrolment is issued to an advocate, practically no communicative and continuing contact survives between him and the Council unless some complaint is made against him.
Hence, the BCK has been forced to implement Certificate of Practice to existing lawyers.
Various welfare schemes for advocates have been floated in India both under State Legislation as well as under various welfare schemes framed by different State Bar Councils and by Bar Council of India, but the benefits there-under are being enjoyed by those who have left the profession as well. This will be stopped after the implementation.
An advocate shall not be entitled to practice law unless he holds a valid Certificate of Practice and the disability to practice will be in place after the list of certificate holders is published under Rule 20.4. It can be obtained by filing application and remitting a fee of `500.
The application should contain two passport size photographs duly attested by the president/secretary of the Bar Association or by any other office-bearer of the Association who is duly authorised for this purpose.
The Certificate of Practice should be renewed in 5-year intervals. Those who enrolled after June, 2010, has to obtain the Certificate of Practice.
The Bar Council of Kerala sources said that an administrative committee will be constituted soon for scrutinising the applications.