Srinagar | August 11, 2026
The Kashmir Bar Association has received multiple complaints and representations from members of the Bar regarding instances of persons pursuing legal education, as well as persons who have completed their LL.B. but have not been duly enrolled as Advocates, allegedly appearing, pleading, representing parties or otherwise engaging in activities amounting to the practice of law before Courts and other legal forums.
The Association has also received serious concerns regarding law students and, in some instances, Advocates creating, recording and circulating reels, videos and other social-media content from within Court premises or in the immediate vicinity of Court premises, which may adversely affect the dignity, decorum and sanctity of the judicial institution.
The Kashmir Bar Association makes it categorically clear that no person acquires the status or statutory right to practise as an Advocate merely by pursuing a law degree or by obtaining an LL.B. qualification.
The right to practise the legal profession is regulated by the Advocates Act, 1961, the rules framed thereunder and the applicable rules and regulations of the Bar Council of India and the competent Bar Council.
STATUTORY POSITION
Section 29 of the Advocates Act, 1961 provides that, subject to the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder, Advocates shall be the only recognised class of persons entitled to practise the profession of law.
Further, Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961 provides for the right of an Advocate whose name is entered on a State Roll to practise throughout the territories to which the Act extends, subject to the provisions of the Act.
Most importantly, Section 33 of the Advocates Act, 1961 expressly provides that, except as otherwise provided by the Act or any other law for the time being in force, no person shall be entitled to practise in any Court or before any authority or person unless he is enrolled as an Advocate under the Act.
Accordingly, a law student or an un-enrolled law graduate has no independent statutory right to practise law, plead, appear or represent a party before a Court in the capacity of an Advocate.
AN LL.B. DEGREE IS NOT, BY ITSELF, A LICENCE TO PRACTISE
The Association further clarifies that an LL.B. degree is an academic qualification and does not, by itself, confer the statutory right to practise law.
The qualifications for admission to the State Roll are prescribed under Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961, subject to the statutory framework and applicable rules.
Therefore, completion of legal education and enrolment as an Advocate are two distinct stages. A person who has merely completed an LL.B. course but has not been duly enrolled with the competent Bar Council cannot represent himself or herself as an Advocate or independently practise law.
NO INDEPENDENT COURT APPEARANCE BY LAW STUDENTS
The Kashmir Bar Association emphasises that a law student, or any other person who is not duly enrolled as an Advocate, cannot independently:
- Appear before a Court as an Advocate;
- Plead or argue a matter on behalf of a litigant in the capacity of an Advocate;
- Represent a party before a Court or other legal authority as an Advocate;
- Accept professional instructions or fees for practising law as an Advocate;
- Sign pleadings or other documents in the capacity of an Advocate; or
- Hold himself or herself out to the public as an Advocate without the requisite statutory enrolment and authority.
Law students may undertake internships, clinical legal education and practical training strictly within the permissible legal framework and under the supervision of duly enrolled Advocates, wherever required. Such training must not be confused with or converted into independent practice of law.
STRICT WARNING REGARDING REELS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT IN COURT PREMISES
The Kashmir Bar Association has also received multiple complaints from members of the Bar regarding the increasing practice of recording reels, videos, photographs and other social-media content by law students and, in certain cases, Advocates within Court premises and around the Court complex.
The Association strongly urges all Advocates, law students, interns and persons associated with legal educational institutions to refrain from recording, producing or circulating reels, videos or other social-media content inside Court premises or in any manner which compromises the dignity, decorum, privacy or sanctity of the Court and judicial proceedings.
The Court premises are not a place for entertainment, publicity, self-promotion or the creation of social-media content.
All persons entering the Court complex are expected to maintain the highest standards of discipline, decorum, dignity and respect for the judicial institution.
Law students of all colleges and universities are particularly advised to strictly adhere to the directions and protocols applicable to Court premises and to ensure that their conduct does not bring the legal profession, the Bar or the judicial institution into disrepute.
STRICT ACTION FOR VIOLATION
The Kashmir Bar Association makes it clear that any Advocate found violating the professional standards and directions applicable to the Bar, or engaging in conduct prejudicial to the dignity and decorum of the legal profession, shall be liable to appropriate action under the applicable rules and disciplinary framework.
In the case of law students or other persons, the Association shall bring instances of such conduct to the notice of the concerned Court, Bar Council, law college/university and other competent authorities, as may be appropriate, and shall seek appropriate action in accordance with law.
Repeated or deliberate violations shall be viewed seriously and may invite strong action from the competent authorities.
RESPONSIBILITY OF ENROLLED ADVOCATES
The Association also calls upon all enrolled Advocates to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and etiquette and not to facilitate or permit unauthorised practice of law.
The Bar Council of India Rules on Professional Standards and Conduct impose professional obligations upon Advocates, and the legal profession cannot be used as a vehicle for permitting un-enrolled persons to undertake independent legal practice.
DUTY OF LAW COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The Kashmir Bar Association calls upon all law colleges and universities imparting legal education to sensitise their students regarding:
Legal Education → Internship/Practical Training → Enrolment as Advocate → Right to Practise
Students must understand that pursuing an LL.B., completing an LL.B. degree or awaiting enrolment does not authorise them to independently practise law.
The Association further urges educational institutions to advise their students to maintain the dignity and decorum expected within Court premises and to refrain from using Court complexes as locations for social-media reels or promotional content.
KASHMIR BAR ASSOCIATION’S POSITION
The Kashmir Bar Association shall not remain a silent spectator to any attempt to dilute the statutory character, professional discipline, dignity and decorum of the legal profession or the judicial institution.
The Association strongly supports legitimate opportunities for law students to obtain practical exposure through lawful internships and supervised clinical training, but such opportunities cannot be permitted to become a means of unauthorised or independent legal practice.
The Association therefore calls upon all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the Advocates Act, 1961, the Bar Council of India Rules and the applicable rules of the competent Bar Council.
A CLEAR MESSAGE
Being a law student does not make a person an Advocate.
An LL.B. degree, by itself, does not confer the statutory right to practise law.
Enrolment as an Advocate in accordance with law is a fundamental prerequisite for practising as an Advocate.
Court premises are meant for the administration of justice and not for social-media publicity or entertainment.
The Kashmir Bar Association urges all Advocates, law students, interns and legal educational institutions to cooperate in maintaining the dignity, discipline and sanctity of the judicial institution.
Any violation brought to the notice of the Association shall be taken up seriously and appropriate action shall be initiated before the competent authority in accordance with law.
COPY TO:
- The Principal District & Sessions Judge, Srinagar for information and necessary action, as deemed appropriate under law.
- The Registrar General, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Srinagar for information and such appropriate action as may be deemed necessary in accordance with law.
- The Chairman, Bar Council of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for information and appropriate action, as deemed necessary under law.
- All concerned Principal District & Sessions Judges for information and appropriate action in accordance with law.
- All Law Colleges and Universities imparting legal education in Jammu & Kashmir for information and necessary sensitisation of law students.
Support Independent and Impartial Journalism
Nouk-e-Qalam News is a free and independent journalistic platform. To maintain our ethical standards and avoid obscene advertisements, we have disabled Google Ads. We now rely on your generous financial support to continue our unbiased reporting. Our Writers and readers are kindly urged to contribute—daily, weekly, or monthly. Thank you for standing with truth.
