1,025 TN advocates suspended for not clearing bar exam

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has suspended 1,025 advocates, who have not cleared the mandatory All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
This was stated in a circular issued by council Secretary C Raja Kumar.
As per the Bar Council of India rules, from 2010 all students graduating from academic year 2009-10 onwards need to clear the AIBE in order to practice law in the country.
However, the BCI in its meeting held on August 26, 2012, had permitted the newly enrolled advocates to practise provisionally for two years, giving them time to clear the exam.
On July 3, 2015, the Madras High Court had directed the council to suspend those advocates, who have not cleared AIBE within the two years.

The state bar council circular said the suspended advocates would be removed from the bar council if they continued to practice.
They would not be eligible for any benefits under the welfare fund scheme for lawyers and not entitled to vote in bar association elections, it added.