Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 11: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two young lawyers Vishal Mahajan and Manav Sanmotra seeking constitution of State Bar Council under Advocates Act, 1961, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Hasnain Massodi directed the State Government to file response within four weeks.
In the PIL, it has been submitted that all the States have their State Bar Councils headed by the elected body of Advocates of their respective States. However, in J&K the High Court is exercising the powers of State Bar Council under Section 58 of the Advocates Act, 1961 with effect from January 31, 1974.
It has further been submitted that the Advocates have been deprived of their legal and statutory rights due to non-constitution of State Bar Council, which otherwise enables the Advocates to have representation in the Bar Council of India.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocates Veenu Gupta and Sumit Singh appearing for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra for the State and Senior Advocate A V Gupta with Advocate Aditya Gupta for the State High Court, Division Bench directed State to file response within four weeks.
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