The Supreme Court on Thursday the 19th of June 2926 issued notices to the Centre, the Bar Council of India (BCI), all State Bar Councils, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) on a writ petition filed by the Bar Association of India (BAI) seeking the establishment of a nationwide advocate verification mechanism to identify and eliminate fake lawyers, as well as the formulation of a social media code of conduct for advocates.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohan heard the petition and sought responses from the authorities concerned.
The petition sought the establishment of a National Digital Registry for the Legal Profession of India (NDRLP) to facilitate nationwide verification of advocates and law degrees, alongside the formulation of a social media and digital conduct code for members of the legal profession.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice of India underscored the need to strengthen young members of the Bar, observing that many of the challenges facing the legal profession could be addressed by ensuring that young lawyers have a secure and supportive professional environment.
At the same time, the Chief Justice stressed that the overwhelming majority of advocates are responsible professionals who are fully aware of their ethical obligations.
He noted that individuals engaging in inappropriate conduct on social media may not necessarily be enrolled advocates.
The Chief Justice noted that several associations of young lawyers across High Courts and district courts are actively engaged in constructive academic pursuits, including organising lectures, seminars, and discussions on legal issues.
Describing these initiatives as an encouraging development, he said they represented far more than a mere ray of hope and reflected the Bar’s confidence and promising future.
The Court also considered the Bar Association of India’s plea for the creation of the National Digital Registry for the Legal Profession of India (NDRLP), a centralised database aimed at verifying advocates and their academic qualifications. At the outset, Chief Justice Kant described the proposal as an innovative idea that could be effectively implemented through the use of technology.
