AJAY SHANKAR SRIVASTAVA Vs. BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who is a practising advocate, has invoked the jurisdiction of this Court to seek two distinct reliefs. The first of them is for challenging an office order dtd. 1/11/2022 of the Bar Council of India to all the State Bar Councils, the purport of which (according to the petitioner) was to interdict the process of verification of advocates who are enrolled with the State Bar Councils for scrutinizing the genuineness of their degrees and enrollments. The second issue deals with the method of co-opting members of the State Bar Councils to fill up casual vacancies.

(2.) We have heard Mr Anand Nandan, counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Mr Manan Kumar Mishra, senior counsel, appearing on behalf of the Bar Council of India with Mr Apurba Kumar Sharma.

(3.) In 2015, the Bar Council of India notified the Bar Council of India Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules 2015 ("2015 Rules"). The process of verification of the certificates and place of practice commenced with efforts by the State Bar Councils and the Bar Council of India.