BCI removes 107 ‘fake’ advocates from its roll in Delhi

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has removed the names of 107 fraudulent lawyers from its records in Delhi between 2019 and October 2024 as part of its ongoing initiative to uphold “integrity and professionalism”.

A BCI statement released on October 26 noted, “This decisive action is aimed at eliminating fake advocates and those who no longer meet the standards of legal practice. By doing so, the BCI has tried to continue to protect the public’s trust and the legal system itself from unethical practices”.

According to BCI secretary Srimanto Sen, the removal of the 107 fake lawyers is a part of the council’s continuous effort to maintain the integrity and professionalism of the legal community in Delhi.

“From 2019 to June 23, 2023, several thousand fake advocates were eliminated following a thorough investigation into their credentials and practices. These removals largely stem from issues involving fake and forged certificates, as well as misrepresentation during the enrollment process. Furthermore, advocates may also be removed from active practice due to failure to actively practice law and non-compliance with the Bar Council’s verification procedures,” the statement explained.

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The Supreme Court has been issuing orders concerning the removal of fraudulent lawyers from the legal profession.

“The fake advocates are identified through ongoing investigations conducted by the bar council and the high-powered committee established by the apex court in the case of Ajay Shanker Srivastava v. Bar Council of India… Some of the forgery cases had been under review prior to the rule change, while others were addressed following the amendment,” it added.

(With inputs from PTI)