BCI rejects Law Commission report that favoured entry of foreign lawyers

NEW DELHI: Bar Council of India (BCI) on Sunday rejected Law Commission of India''s 266th report which favoured entry of foreign lawyers and law firms and recommended drastic changed in the manner of regulating the legal profession in the country.

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 9

Bar Council of India (BCI) on Sunday rejected Law Commission of India's 266th report which favoured entry of foreign lawyers and law firms and recommended drastic changed in the manner of regulating the legal profession in the country.

After a two-day brain-storming session with various bar bodies of the country, BCI — which regulates legal profession and education in India — “unanimously decided to reject the draconian, anti-lawyer and undemocratic 266threport of Law Commission of India in toto”.

BCI secretary Srimanto Sen said, “It was further resolved that the government be requested to not consider the 266th report of Law Commission of India at all.”

The bar bodies' decision comes a day after Chief Justice of India JS Khehar favoured entry of foreign lawyers and law firms, saying the opportunity should never be missed.

The bar leaders decided that BCI would formulate its own recommendations relating to amendments required in the Advocates Act, 1961, in consultation with all State Bar Councils and various Bar Associations, including High Court Bar Associations, across the country and send the same to the Union Law Ministry.

In a letter sent to BCI, the Union Ministry of Law & Justice had requested the top bar body to furnish the views of Bar Councils on 266th report of the Law Commission of India suggesting amendments to the Advocates Act, 1961.

Lawyers have been up in arms against Law Commission's 266th report — “The Advocates Act 1961 (Regulation of Legal Profession) which has suggested drastic changes in the manner of regulating the legal profession, particularly disciplinary action against them”.

Describing The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as “draconian”, the BCI had earlier said the recommendations of the Law Commission put the entire legal fraternity into jeopardy.

Accusing Law Commission chairman Justice BS Chauhan of misleading the government, BCI had demanded his resignation.