S. SANKAR Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) With the consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal.

(2.) The petitioner, who is a practicing Advocate before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, has filed this writ petition to quash the order, dated 02.09.2013, passed by the second respondent the Trustee Committee of Advocates Welfare Fund, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, by which the petitioner was informed that he is required to pay a sum of Rs.8,300/- towards life subscription, failing which the amount already paid by him would be adjusted towards admission fee and annual subscription upto 31.03.2014. The said communication was sent to 35 applicants, who are all members of the Madurai Bench High Court Advocates Association.

(3.) The Trustee Committee placed reliance on the resolution passed in it's meeting held on 05.07.2013 in resolution No.3 of 2013, wherein it was resolved to admit those Advocates, who have filed applications for admission in Form No.III, on or before 08.09.2012, on payment of admission fee and life subscription, if paid on the pre-amendment rate namely Rs.200/- and Rs.2,500/- respectively. It was further resolved that if the advocates paid admission fee of Rs.1,000/- on or after 08.09.2012, they shall be admitted as members and if any excess amount is paid by them the same shall be adjusted towards annual subscription and those who have paid admission fee of Rs.1,000/- and life subscription of Rs.10,000/- on or after 08.09.2012, they shall be admitted into the membership with life subscription. This decision of the Trustee Committee has been challenged by the petitioner by filing this writ petition.