[dropcap]T[/dropcap]AKING cue from the speech delivered by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde yesterday, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a statement that it is seriously considering to introduce certain imminent reformative measures for the betterment of legal profession as well as legal education.
JUST IN: Bar Council of India (BCI) to make 2-year trial court experience mandatory for high court practice & 2-year high court experience for practising in Supreme Court. Rules to this effect to be made applicable from March 2020. Will be applicable to new entrants to the Bar. pic.twitter.com/faPdLhVQSG
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) November 22, 2019
The BCI is likely to introduce a mandatory experience clause for every new entrant at the Bar before joining the High Court and the Supreme Court. Before joining any High Court Bar a newly enrolled advocate will have to practice in District/Taluka Court, at-least for a period of two years.
Similarly, the BCI is proposing to introduce the Rule for joining the Supreme Court Bar and to practice in the Supreme Court. A minimum of two years experience of practice at any High Court will be mandatory for practising in the Supreme Court.
BCI has also proposed to make Continuous Legal Education (CLE) for Advocates up to 10 years of practice “compulsory”. The participation in said CLE will be mandatory.
According to the press statement released by BCI, it will also be discussing the issue of introduction of the experience clause for the Judicial Officers in the subordinate judiciary. The same will be discussed in the Joint Meeting of all the States Bar Councils, all the High Court Bar Associations and major Bar Associations of the country to be held in January 2020.
All these Rules are likely to be made effective from March 2020
BCI agreed with the suggestion of the AG KK Venugopal that the retirement age of the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts should be enhanced to make it either 68 or 70 years.
It also added that if the retirement age is increased, there should not be post retiral assignment for the retired Judges of the Supreme Court/High Courts and the assignments in various Commissions, Tribunals, Boards etc, should be meant for deserving Advocates only.
