Key facts
- Supreme Court issued notices to Centre and Bar Council of India
- Plea seeks creation of a national registry of all enrolled lawyers
- Currently advocates are enrolled state-wise with no unified national database
India Today reports that the Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and the Bar Council of India on a petition demanding the establishment of a national registry for lawyers. The court issued notices to both parties, asking them to file their replies before the next hearing.
Currently, advocates in India are enrolled through various State Bar Councils, resulting in a fragmented system with no single national database. The petitioner argues that a unified national registry would help verify credentials, prevent impersonation, and bring greater accountability to the legal profession.
The Bar Council of India, which is the apex regulatory body for advocates in the country, will now have to formally state its position on the proposal. For ordinary citizens navigating courts across India, a verified national database of lawyers could offer a practical safeguard against fraudulent practitioners and improve confidence in legal representation.