Kerala High Court Permits Enrollment Of Retired Govt Employee Who Completed LLB Degree Through Evening Classes

Justice N Nagaresh disposed of the writ petition which was filed challenging the denial of enrollment to a retired employee who has completed his LL.B in 1994 by attending evening classes.

Previously, an interim order was issued directing the Bar Council of Kerala to receive his application for enrollment.

The petition also challenged the exorbitant enrollment fee charged by the bar council from retired persons by relying on Gaurav Kumar v Union of India.

Today, when the matter came up for hearing, the standing counsel appearing for the Bar Council of Kerala submitted that the petitioner needs to pay Rs. 750 only as statutory fee for enrollment and on the payment of the statutory fee, the petitioner will be permitted to enroll.

The standing counsel further submitted that though the petitioner has studied in the evening class, since the degree certificate is issued prior to 2008 there is no difficulty in enrolling the petitioner and the petitioner can practice as an advocate on enrollment.

The Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the portal for application does not have an option for evening classes as the mode of attaining degree.

The standing counsel submitted that there are certain difficulties in the system maintained by the Bar Council of Kerala for options (fulltime/part-time/evening). The court thus permitted the petitioner to apply through the option 'part-time'.

The petition was thus disposed.

Case Title: P.S. Vijayakumaran v. Union of India and Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 550

Case No: WP(C) 32947/2025

Counsel for Petitioner: P V Uttara, Samah Abdul Majid

Counsel for Respondent: O M Shalina (DSG), Rajit (SC-BCI), M U Vijayalakshmi (SC- Bar Council of Kerala) 

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