Ranchi, Apr 29 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Monday issued notice to the Bar Council of India in a case filed in connection with the BCI granting an extension of 18 months to the state bar council.

The high court was hearing a petition filed by Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, who has questioned the authority of the BCI to grant an extension to the Jharkhand State Bar Council "beyond the scope of the Advocates Act, 1961."

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The petitioner claimed that the Advocates Act provides for an extension of six months after the expiry of its term to a State Bar Council by the BCI.

Contrary to this provision, the BCI has granted an extension of 18 months to the Jharkhand State Bar Council after the statutory extension of six months granted earlier, Tiwari's counsel Nilesh Agarwal said.

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Agarwal informed the court that the term of the Jharkhand State Bar Council had expired in July last year. Thereafter, it was given an extension of six months according to the provisions of the Advocates Act. This extension has also expired in January 2024.

The BCI issued a letter in January granting an extension of 18 months more to the State Bar Council to run its office.

Agarwal submitted that this move of the BCI is against the Act and should be set aside.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)