KERALA HIGH COURT BARS CERTIFICATE VERIFICATION FEE FOR LAWYER ENROLLMENT [Read Judgment]

Kerala: The Kerala High Court’s Division Bench has modified a Single Judge’s order regarding certificate verification fees for enrollment with the Bar Council of Kerala, ruling that no fees can be collected from applicants.

Justices Ziyad Rahman A.A. and P.V. Balakrishnan addressed an appeal challenging an interim order requiring candidates to produce fee receipts for the verification of educational certificates.

Kerala HC Rules Against Bar Council’s Certificate Verification Fee for Enrollment

The case originated from a petition filed by Alan Benny, who challenged the requirement to pay fees for the verification of his SSLC, Plus Two, Degree, and LLB certificates during the enrollment process.

No Fees for Lawyer Enrollment: High Court Enforces Supreme Court Order

The court noted, “There is an obligation on the part of the Universities and Examination Boards to verify the genuineness of the educational certificates without charging any fee for the purpose of verification.”

Addressing the Bar Council’s stance, the court observed that the Bar Council of India’s 2017 notice requiring Rs. 2,500 for certificate verification “cannot be implemented” in light of the Supreme Court’s order.

The Division Bench directed that the petitioner’s enrollment application should be processed and certificates verified without any fees, stating, “There is a duty cast upon the Bar Council to get the certificates of the applicant verified by the concerned Boards and Universities, without charging any fees.”

The court also allowed the petitioner’s enrollment even if verification is pending by the scheduled date of January 5, 2025, subject to cancellation if the certificates are found to be improper.

For the appellant: Advs. Aslam K.K., Akshai M. Sivan, Astel Joseph, Avanthika R., Muhammed Abdul Basith E.A., Roy Antony

For the respondents: Advs. M.U. Vijayalakshmi, K. Jaju Babu (Sr.)

Case title: Alan Benny vs. Bar Council of Kerala and Another

[Read Judgment]