Hyderabad: The appointment of two co-opted women members to the Bar Council of Telangana, pending since March 2026, is expected to pave the way for the resumption of enrolment of law graduates, which has remained stalled since December 2025, offering relief to hundreds of aspiring advocates after an eight-month impasse.Although enrolments had resumed temporarily through an interim arrangement, the high court stayed the process on Aug 14. While graduates say the delay could significantly affect their careers, the Bar Council has stated that it will apprise the court of the legal position and seek vacation of the stay.Following Supreme Court directions to the chief justices of the respective high courts to finalise the selection of two women co-opted members to the newly elected Bar Councils, Telangana Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with the newly elected council members and finalised the appointments on Wednesday. Accordingly, Rohini Smitha and Jyothi Jadhav were nominated to the council.“In pursuance of the directions of the Supreme Court of India, the chief justice of the high court for the state of Telangana, after consultation with the elected members of the state Bar Council, has been pleased to nominate these two women members as co-opted members to the Bar Council of Telangana,” a communication from the registrar general of the high court to the Bar Council stated.Enrolments have remained on hold following a resolution passed on Dec 14, 2025, and a subsequent election notification issued on Dec 20, 2025. The enrolment committee and the disciplinary committee, which scrutinised the records of law graduates, were also dissolved.The election was held in January 2026. Counting took place between Feb 10 and March 24, and election authorities declared 23 advocates elected to the Telangana Bar Council on March 26. However, the appointment of two co-opted members remained pending, delaying the constitution of the council and the resumption of enrolments.Ayush Sharma, a city-based law graduate who completed his degree in 2023 and recently approached the Bar Council of Telangana for enrolment, alleged that his application was rejected for failing to submit certain documents, including a study certificate, bona fide certificate and original degree certificate. While he is arranging the required documents, there has been no clarity on the resumption of enrolments, he said.Meanwhile, Bar Council of India Rules Committee member P Vishnu Vardhan Reddy stressed the need for prompt enrolment of law graduates under the Advocates Act, 1961. He argued that even brief delays prevent graduates from practising in courts and gaining the experience required for examinations for posts such as magistrates, district judges and public prosecutors.“Enrolments should continue periodically regardless of whether Bar Council elections are pending or the results are delayed,” Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said.
Source link
