The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTP) on Wednesday issued a circular intimating office-bearers of all bar associations in the State that it shall remove from its rolls the names of advocates who had failed to clear All India Bar Examination (AIBE), conducted by the Bar Council of India, within two years of their enrolment.
The circular issued by BCTP Secretary C. Raja Kumar pointed out that AIBE was introduced in 2010 following an amendment to the BCI Rules and so far about 10 such examinations had been conducted. In August 2012, the BCI had passed a resolution granting a period of two years for newly enrolled advocates to clear the mandatory AIBE.
“lf they fail to clear the All lndia Bar Examination within the prescribed period of two years, they are not eligible to practise as advocates in any court of law, tribunals till they clear the examination,” the circular stated and recalled that the High Court too had on July 3, 2015 directed BCTP to suspend the advocates who had not cleared the examinations.
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“They are also not eligible for any of the benefits under the Advocates’ Welfare Fund Scheme and also not entitled to vote in the Bar Association/Advocates Association election in which he/she was admitted,” the BCTP said and informed that removal proceedings would be initiated without further notice against all advocates who had failed to clear the examinations.
The office-bearers of all advocate associations in the State were requested to display the circular conspicuously on their notice boards so that all members of the Bar get to know the decision taken by BCTP.