KOCHI:Wearing an advocate’s gown is turning out to be dearer for those earned a law degree, but chose another profession and later planning to enrol for legal practice after retirement. The Bar Council of Kerala(BCK) has decided introduce a steep hike in the enrolment fee for those preparing to to enrol after retirement from some other job.
The decision is to revise the fee from the existing amount of Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000. The BCK decision came in the backdrop of retired personnel, especially those who retired from Revenue, and Sales Tax, dominating in canvasing cases related to these departments.
Advocates in many bar associations have raised voice against this trend which is on the rise . ‘’The fee hike is meant only for retired persons, not for a fresher who just completed LLB and applying for enrolment. Their enrolment fee remains the same at Rs 11,600, ‘’ BCK authorities clarified.
‘’There are many persons who have LLB degree but joined government service after graduation. They did not get enroled after graduating in law 25 or 30 years ago. Such people apply for enrollment after retirement and canvas cases mostly related to their service sector. This has created embarrassment among other advocates.
Meanwhile, the KSU district committee on Friday organised a protest near the Government Law College, alleging that BCK decision was violation of norms.