Now, lawyers can practise, as a matter of right, in all courts and forums, including tribunals or any quasi-judicial authority.Fifty years after the Advocates Act, 1961, came into force, the Centre has notified Section 30 of the Act — with effect from June 15 2011 — to enable advocates to practise anywhere. This provision was not notified when the Act was added to the statute book. As a result, in certain courts and tribunals, lawyers could appear only if they were permitted by the presiding officer.
For some strange reason, this Section 30 was not notified for the last fifty years. The Government has issued a notification last week appointing June 15 2011 as the date from which this section will come into force.
The long-pending demand of lawyers for notifying this Section was fulfilled, thanks to Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily’s initiative.
