Bare Acts

The Advocates Act, 1961

1961 · In force · synced 07 Jul 2026

1.Short title, extent and commencement 2.Definitions

II — BAR COUNCILS

3.State Bar Councils 4.Bar Council of India 5.Bar Council to be body corporate 6.Functions of State Bar Councils 7.Functions of Bar Council of India 7A.Membership in international bodies 8.Term of office of members of State Bar Council 8A.Constitution of Special Committee in the absence of election 9.Disciplinary committees 9A.Constitution of legal aid committees 10.Constitution of committees other than disciplinary committees 10A.Transaction of business by Bar Councils and committees thereof 11.Staff of Bar Council 12.Accounts and Audit 13.Vacancies in Bar Council and committees thereof not to invalidate action taken 14.Election to Bar Councils not to be questioned on certain grounds 15.Power to make rules

III — ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT OF ADVOCATES

16.Senior and other advocates 17.State Bar Councils to maintain roll of advocates 18.Transfer of name from one State roll to another 19.State Bar Councils to send copies of rolls of advocates to the Bar Council of India 20.Special provision for enrolment of certain Supreme Court advocates 21.Disputes regarding seniority 22.Certificate of enrolment 23.Right of pre-audience 24.Persons who may be admitted as advocates on a State roll 24A.Disqualification for enrolment 25.Authority to whom applications for enrolment may be made 26.Disposal of applications for admission as an advocate 26A.Power to remove names from roll 27.Application once refused not to be entertained by another Bar Council except in certain circumstances 28.Power to make rules

IV

29.Advocates to be the only recognised class of persons entitled to practise law 30.Right of advocates to practise 31.[Special provision for attorneys.]32.Power of court to permit appearances in particular cases 33.Advocates alone entitled to practise 34.Power of High Courts to make rules

V

35.Punishment of advocates for misconduct 36.Disciplinary powers of Bar Council of India 36A.Changes in constitution of disciplinary committees 36B.Disposal of disciplinary proceedings 37.Appeal to the Bar Council of India 38.Appeal to the Supreme Court 39.Application of sections 5 and 12 of Limitation Act, 1963 40.Stay of order 41.Alteration in roll of advocates 42.Powers of disciplinary committee 42A.Powers of Bar Council of India and other committees 43.Cost of proceedings before a disciplinary committees 44.Review of orders by disciplinary committee

VI

45.Penalty for persons illegally practising in courts and before other authorities 45A.Power to frame and publish lists of touts 46.Payment of part of enrolment fees to the Bar Council of India]46A.Financial assistance to State Bar Council 47.Reciprocity 48.Indemnity against legal proceedings 48A.Power of revision 48AA.Review 49.General power of the Bar Council of India to make rules 49A.Power of Central Government to make rules 50.Repeal of certain enactments 51.Rule of construction 52.Saving

VII

53.Elections to first State Bar Council 54.Term of office of members of first State Bar Councils 55.Rights of certain existing legal practitioners not affected 56.Dissolution of existing Bar Councils 57.Power to make rules pending the constitution of a Bar Council 58.Special provisions during the transitional period 58A.Special provisions with respect to certain advocates 58AA.Special provisions in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry

III

58AB.Special provisions with respect to certain persons enrolled by Mysore State Bar Council 58AC.Special provisions with respect to certain persons enrolled by Uttar Pradesh State Bar 58AD.Special provisions with respect to certain persons migrating to India 58AE.Special provisions in relation to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu 58AF.Special provisions in relation to Jammu and Kashmir]58AG.Special provisions in relation to articled clerks 59.Removal of difficulties 60.Power of Central Government to make rules

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