Section 7

The Supreme Court held that State Bar Councils and the Bar Council of India cannot charge law graduates more than the enrolment fee fixed by Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, Rs 750 for general and Rs 125 for SC/ST candidates, whatever the label on the extra charges. Fees of Rs 15,000 to Rs 42,000 violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g); the ruling is prospective, so past fees need not be refunded (paras 89, 102, 105, 108-109).

A five-Judge Constitution Bench held that the Bar Council of India has power under the Advocates Act, 1961 to prescribe an examination for enrolment, and that V. Sudeer, which had struck down the 1995 pre-enrolment rules, does not lay down the correct law. Whether the All India Bar Examination is held before or after enrolment is for the Council, and final-semester students may take it. The ruling is prospective and does not mandate pre-enrolment training (paras 32, 34-35, 38, 47).

A Constitution Bench held that "lawyers have no right to go on strike or give a call for boycott, not even on a token strike" (para 35). Advocates holding vakalats cannot stay away from court on a strike call, courts need not adjourn cases because lawyers are on strike, and an advocate who abstains is personally liable for costs; protest must take peaceful forms that do not stop court work (paras 31, 35).