Allahabad High Court: UP Bar Council to Issue Permanent Enrolment Numbers Post AIBE

• The Allahabad High Court has directed the UP Bar Council to issue permanent enrolment numbers within four weeks of clearing AIBE.
• Law graduates must complete police verification within two weeks of receiving the verification form from the UP Bar Council.
• Advocates in Uttar Pradesh should watch for the new deadline and ensure they meet the necessary requirements for legal practice.

The Court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to instruct all district police chiefs to complete the police verification of law graduates intending to enrol as advocates within a period of two weeks from the date of receiving the verification form from the Bar Council of UP.

The Allahabad High Court has issued a directive to the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to issue permanent enrolment numbers to advocates who have cleared the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) within four weeks of receiving their result card. This decision was made in response to a case where an advocate, Jaihind Gaund, appeared in court despite having an expired provisional enrolment number. The Court considered the issue of lawyer enrolment and sought clarification from the Bar Council of India (BCI) on whether a lawyer without a Certificate of Practice (CoP) can still practice law.

The Court also directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to instruct district police chiefs to complete police verification of law graduates within two weeks of receiving the verification form from the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council. This move aims to streamline the enrolment process for lawyers in the state.

The Court's decision is based on Rule 9 of the All India Bar Examination Rules, 2010, which governs the provisional enrolment of law graduates. According to the rules, law graduates are initially granted provisional enrolment, and upon clearing the AIBE, they become eligible for a permanent enrolment number or Certificate of Practice. The Uttar Pradesh Bar Council is now required to issue these numbers within four weeks of receiving the result card.

The Court's directive also highlights the importance of police verification in the enrolment process. This step ensures that law graduates meet the necessary requirements for legal practice and are eligible to receive a permanent enrolment number.

For lawyers in Uttar Pradesh, this decision is crucial as it sets a clear timeline for receiving their permanent enrolment numbers. Advocates who have cleared the AIBE must now ensure that they complete police verification within two weeks of receiving the verification form from the Bar Council. This will enable them to obtain their permanent enrolment number and practice law without any hindrance.

The Court's directive also underscores the need for efficient communication between the state bar councils, police authorities, and law graduates. By streamlining this process, the Court aims to ensure that lawyers in Uttar Pradesh can focus on their professional obligations without unnecessary delays or complications.

Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh should watch for the new deadline to receive permanent enrolment numbers after clearing AIBE, and ensure they complete police verification within two weeks.

Source: Original reporting via Allahabad High Court