Can fee of needy aspiring lawyers writing all India bar exam waived? SC asks BCI

New Delhi, Jul 18 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Bar Council of India about the presence of a scheme to waive off fee of poor LLB graduates who write the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to enrol as lawyers.

The top court was also critical of “phenomenally high fees” levied by the National Law Universities (NLUs) for their LLB courses and said the education system needed strengthening.

A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar was hearing a plea filed by Kuldeep Mishra challenging the fees levied by the Bar Council of India (BCI) for taking up AIBE for enrolling law graduates as lawyers.

The AIBE application fee is Rs 3,500 for general and OBC candidates and Rs 2,500 for the scheduled caste and tribe candidates. The fees are non-refundable and must be paid online.

“You cannot have a system which does not have any provision for the poor candidates,” the bench told the BCI counsel.

It added, “You must have a provision to exempt fees to the needy people and this process should not be complicated.”

The BCI was later asked to come prepared on the aspect after two weeks.

Referring to the fees levied by NLUs, the bench said, “The fees of NLUs have gone phenomenally high.”

“We need to strengthen our education system. People take loans for taking up LL.B courses and the fees are on the higher side,” Justice Narasimha said.

The fee charged by NLUs for five-year LLB courses usually ranges from Rs 1.7 lakhs to Rs 4 lakhs per annum.

Top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore and NLU Delhi have higher fees compared to newer ones. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Azharuddeen to lead South Zone in Duleep Trophy semifinals

Bengaluru, Aug 31: Kerala batter Mohammed Azharuddeen on Sunday...

It’s nice that the world is shrinking: AR Rahman on evolution of music

Mumbai, Aug 31: Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman expressed his...

Blast in firecracker factory in Lucknow, two killed

Lucknow, Aug 31: At least two people were killed...

SC to hear on Sept 1 plea over sale of 20 percent ethanol blended petrol

New Delhi, Aug 31: The Supreme Court is scheduled...

6 militants arrested in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 31: Six militants were arrested from different...

Vinícius helps Madrid fight back for win over Mallorca, Atletico remains winless in La Liga

Barcelona, Aug 31: Vinícius Júnior and Arda Güler scored...

PM Modi holds talks with President Xi

Tianjin, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories