Enrolment delayed for over 1 1/2 years by the bctnpy. pray for your kind support please.

While the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry (BCTNPY) aims for expeditious processing, delays in enrolment applications can occur, but should not be "inordinate" and should be dealt with within a reasonable timeframe, generally not exceeding three months, with potential extensions for exceptional circumstances.

You can move high court with a writ petition against the bar council seeking appropriate directions by citing the judgments in your possesion  along with all documentary evidnces to support your claim.

Very well advised by learned senior expert, I agree.

It is advised to avoid posting local abbreviations in legal parlance, such as BCTNPY used by you.

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Thank you for your kind response. I have already cited 22 authoritative case laws, including Supreme Court and High Court judgments, supporting my enrolment. Despite three statutory sittings, my application remains pending for over 1½ years without any legal justification from BCTNPY. Such an inordinate delay violates natural justice and fundamental rights.

While filing a writ petition before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras is an option, I hesitate as it may consume significant time, further prolonging my enrolment. Moreover, while ignorance of law is no excuse, what about negligence of law by BCTNPY? Should an institution entrusted with upholding legal ethics be allowed to disregard settled precedents with impunity?

I appreciate the suggestion regarding a writ petition, but I also seek insights on additional legal remedies, including potential contempt proceedings against BCTNPY for disregarding judicial precedents. Any further guidance would be greatly appreciated.

No contempt proceedings is maintainable against bar council of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry because they have not disobeyed any order by court, besides you have not approached court at all then where is the question of contempt.

The citation in your possession is a guidance to proceed with and not an order or judgement against the bar council.

Don't waste your time anymore by waiting for the decision which is not forthcoming, instead look for remedy if you are really serious about your problem.

What reasons bar council told you for delay? Inform. to get proper reply. 

While filing a writ petition before the Hon’ble High Court is an available legal remedy, it is a time-consuming process. Considering the prolonged delay, alternative approaches have also been pursued. In this regard:

1. Appeal to Higher Judicial Authorities: A detailed representation has already been submitted to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, highlighting the blatant disregard for precedents and violation of fundamental rights.

2. Deliberate Negligence of Precedents: The legal principle ignorantia juris non excusat (ignorance of law is no excuse) applies universally. However, what is the legal impact when a statutory body deliberately disregards 22 authoritative precedents—including 13 from the Hon’ble Supreme Court, 5 from the Madras High Court, 3 from the Allahabad High Court, and a landmark judgment from the Karnataka High Court—which directly apply to the case?

3. Recent Supreme Court Ruling on BCI’s Role: The Hon’ble Supreme Court recently clarified that the Bar Council of India has no authority to interfere with legal education. If the BCI itself cannot question the validity of legal education, on what basis does the BCTNPY continue to obstruct enrolment despite clear judicial pronouncements?

These aspects need serious consideration, as they go beyond mere procedural delay and indicate a deliberate and mala fide attempt to deny enrolment.

There is no point in writing to the chief justice of supreme court or the chief justice of Madras high court in this regard, nobody will look into such personal grievances letter.

There is a procedure of law  to be followed by courts, that it will consider your grievances only if it is a case before the court and not otherwise.

You can have 100 citrations also but unless you don't refer those precedents in the case while arguing your case, it will not be even looked at by anyone.

You were informed about the necessary step to be taken in this regard for an effective  remedy to this but you seem not to be bothered to initiate any  steps as per procedures of law instead you are repeating your own stories in all the posts of this thread. 

The citations are to be referred only in the cases before the court and not in the places which don't even pay heed to them. 

Besides, who told you that the writ petition is long drawn legal case?

If you keep repeating the same story here also  without even understanding what had been opined or suggested to you, then perhaps you may not get any further opinions from the experts of this forum too in future.

At the outset, I sincerely thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. However, I must clarify that I am not merely "telling a story" here. I joined this forum expecting intellectual discourse beyond just the writ jurisdiction, considering it a platform for legal minds. Before I take leave of this forum, I wish to share a few thoughts.

Any fresh law graduate knows that the Supreme Court has writ jurisdiction under Article 32 and High Courts under Article 226. The purpose of my post was to highlight the misadministration and defiance of precedents by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNPY). If landmark judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and High Courts are disregarded, what is their purpose?

Consider a Government Order (G.O.) issued for public benefit—if a public servant refuses to implement it, stringent action is initiated, even against IAS, IPS, IRS, and IFS officers. While an aggrieved citizen can approach the court, government administration still takes action against the violator. If the solution to every issue is merely a writ petition, what is the role of administration? Who will hold the BCTNPY accountable?

The Supreme Court has repeatedly warned bar councils, including its 21st March 2025 ruling, that bar councils have no authority to interfere in legal education. Yet, BCTNPY continues to function as if it is above the judiciary, ignoring clear legal mandates.

Bar Council’s Lack of Integrity

The Co-Chairman of BCTNPY actively participates in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, appears in TV advertisements for caste-based matrimonial websites, and has a criminal case against him for unlawful assembly—all while holding office in a statutory body. Is this the standard of ethics expected from a regulatory institution? It is evident that some elected members are backed by caste-based groups, ensuring their continued dominance in the Bar Council.

The Response from Senior Advocates

Many senior advocates I approached only displayed their seniority instead of providing any practical remedy beyond suggesting a writ petition. Seniority must come with responsibility. During my 39 years of devoted government service, I handled highly sensitive matters, including elections and legal counter-affidavits, ensuring that even the most marginalized citizens received justice. In public administration, non-compliance with a G.O. results in strict disciplinary action, including suspension, charge-sheeting, and even dismissal.

The Illusion That Writ Petitions Are a Quick Remedy

The claim that “a writ petition is not a long-drawn legal case” does not stand the test of reality. Consider the Karnataka High Court case in which the writ was filed in 2018, but the final judgment came only in 2024. The legal system is burdened with delays, and a writ petition is often not an immediate solution.

Moreover, if I file a writ petition and secure my enrolment, should every applicant facing similar injustice be forced to file a writ? Is there no mechanism to hold BCTNPY accountable for its unlawful conduct? Should each and every case require judicial intervention while BCTNPY continues its unchecked violations?

The Larger Issue – Who Will Bell the Cat?

If I secure enrolment quietly through a court order, who will highlight this systemic failure to the judiciary? Who will ensure that future applicants are not subjected to the same ordeal? Should we remain silent while BCTNPY continues its arbitrary, unethical, and defiant practices?

As the great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar stated:
"இடிப்பாரை இல்லாத ஏமரா மன்னன்
கெடுப்பா ரிலானுங் கெடும்" (Kural 448)
"A king without enforcers may appear powerful, but he will ultimately be destroyed by his own weakness."

If I were in a legal forum of influence, I would have escalated this issue to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, highlighting BCTNPY’s misadministration, disobedience of court orders, and disregard for legal ethics.

Final Thoughts

I have never used my seniority as a government officer to demand respect. Instead, I have always upheld professional ethics and public service. As the great Tamil saint Avvaiyar wisely said:
"கற்றது கை மண் அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு."
(What we have learned is but a handful of sand; what remains to be learned is as vast as the world.)

True wisdom does not come from mere education or seniority—it comes from action and responsibility.

I once again thank you for your time. With this, I take leave of this forum by unsubscribing.