SC asks Centre to notify J&K State Bar Council Draft Rules

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to notify the amended Jammu and Kashmir State Bar Council Draft Rules after the Bar Council of India (BCI) said it had approved it.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur gave the direction to notify the rules in four weeks, after the counsel for BCI told the court that it has approved the amended Jammu and Kashmir State Bar Council draft rules.
Advocate A K Prasad appearing for BCI told a bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, that the draft rules will now be forwarded to the central government for publication in the gazette.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on the issue after six weeks.
Senior advocate Bhim Sigh in his plea has said that state bar council should be established in Jammu and Kashmir as it has been functioning in accordance with a transitory arrangement under provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961.
He also alleged that no initiative was taken to constitute the Bar Council by holding elections in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The senior counsel also alleged that denial of a democratically elected Bar Council amounted to violation of fundamental rights.