Supreme Court Protects Marginalized Law Graduates from Exorbitant Fees

The Supreme Court ruled that State Bar Councils cannot charge excessive fees for law graduate enrolments, recognizing that such fees create barriers for marginalized and economically weaker sections. The judgment underscores the essential link between dignity and equality, highlighting systemic discrimination in the legal profession.

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that State Bar Councils (SBCs) cannot impose exorbitant enrolment fees on law graduates, highlighting the potential for such costs to create barriers in an already predisposed legal system.

The judgment, delivered by a bench including Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, emphasized that the fee cap for general category law graduates must be Rs 750, while SC/ST graduates pay Rs 125.

The bench argued that the present system of high enrolment fees exacerbates discrimination, particularly against marginalized communities, and hampers their entry into the legal profession, thus perpetuating systemic exclusion and inequality.