The Bar Council of India (BCI) has taken decisive steps to remove 107 'fake' lawyers from its official roster in Delhi, marking a significant action in its ongoing verification campaign to combat fraudulent legal practices. This initiative, which began in 2015, aims to verify the credentials of registered advocates to safeguard the credibility of the legal profession and to enforce professional integrity across the field.
The 107 advocates removed from BCI’s roll were found to lack the requisite qualifications or to have submitted false documents. This removal follows a broader mandate issued to state bar councils across India to verify the educational and professional backgrounds of practicing lawyers, particularly after it was discovered that a substantial number of legal practitioners had been using forged or non-existent degrees. BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra stressed that the campaign was essential for “protecting the profession’s sanctity” and restoring public trust.
The initial stage of the verification drive called for advocates to submit their degrees and other credentials to the BCI. With several hundred thousand advocates registered in India, the BCI faced an overwhelming volume of documents, which delayed the completion of the verification process. However, the progress so far has uncovered a concerning pattern of fraudulent practices, with Delhi’s purge of fake lawyers being the latest outcome in a series of crackdowns. The BCI has implemented similar actions in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which are undertaking rigorous screening processes to identify non-compliant practitioners.
An important aspect of the BCI’s drive also involves collaboration with the judiciary. The Madras High Court recently directed the BCI to enforce stringent measures on lawyers soliciting work through advertising, a practice that violates Rule 36 of the BCI’s code of conduct. The court has mandated the BCI to collaborate with state bar councils and online platforms to remove advertisements from portals such as Quikr, Just Dial, and Sulekha, warning of penalties for non-compliance. The BCI has thus also issued notices to online directories, ensuring compliance with these directives, as part of its wider commitment to uphold ethical practices in the profession.