SC admits appeal against Kerala HC order on nuns and priests

New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today admitted the appeal filed by Bar Council of India challenging the Kerala High Court judgement order holding that nuns and priests are not debarred from being enrolled as advocates under the Advocate's act.

A bench comprising Mr Justice B N Aggarwal and Mr Justice P P Naolekar, however, refused to stay the impugned High Court judgement dated March 21, 2006 permitting that priests and nuns are not disqualified from seeking enrolment as advocates.

Kerala Bar Council had earlier denied them enrolment on the ground that as per the Bar Council rules persons who are engaged in full -time profession cannot get work as advocates.

According to the Bar Council of Kerala, the nuns and priests are doing full-time profession and hence are not entitled to become advocates.

The High Court, however, came to the conclusion that priests and nuns are not doing full-time profession and hence they are entitled to practice law.

The court, however, directed to expedite the hearing. The respondents are P C Thomas, belonging to the Bar Council of Kerala.

The Bar Council of India has challenged the High Court order on the ground that High Court has erred in not appreciating the fact that a person who seeks enrolment as an advocate cannot be a member of another profession, however noble the same may be.

Another ground of challenge is that admission into legal profession is to be governed by the rules framed under the Advocates Act and not governed by the fact that priests and nuns take up employment in other occupations.

UNI AKS SC SY AT KN1243