HC issues notice on age bar for Lawyers

HC was informed that earlier Bar Council of Tamil Nadu had also introduced upper age limit.

The Delhi Bar Council decision debarring law graduates above 45 years of age from registering themselves as lawyer faces legal challenge as the Delhi High Court has sought explanation from it on its legality.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice J P Sing after hearing a petition, filed by a group of law students, issued notice to the Bar Council and directed it to file its reply by April 4.

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The students contended that the impugned rule violated their fundamental rights and it discriminated against all people above 45 years of age.

"This rule not only prohibits those people who want to join the legal profession after retirement, but puts blanket ban on all those people who have attained the age of 45 years and are otherwise qualified to be enrolled as advocates," the petition said.

The petitioners also questioned the power of the Bar Council to introduce such rule and said, "Neither Bar Council of India or State Bar Council has power to make rule to debar persons of age group of 45 years from getting registered as lawyer if they are otherwise qualified."

The Court was informed that earlier Bar Council of Tamil Nadu had also introduced upper age limit for getting registration as a lawyer, but the rule was struck down by the Madras High Court.