AP & Telangana High Court says BCI’s age-limit not applicable this year

Litigation against the Bar Council of India’s age-limit rule has now reached the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, reports The Hindu. The bench of Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and A Shankara Narayana J. reportedly directed that the age-limit would not be applicable for this academic year. .The group of seven petitioners have asked the High Court to strike down Clause 28, which was “revived” in September this year. The petitioners, led by one Gudisa Babu Bhima Rao, have contended that this clause runs afoul of the Advocates Act, as well as Article 14 of the Indian Constitution..Although this petition was limited to the state’s common entrance test for law, the hearings and final decision will, no doubt, have an impact at the national level too. As was reported late last month, the Common Law Admission Test shall also comply with the age limit for the 2017 edition..The AP & Telangana High Court will now hear the matter on November 30, five days after the Bombay High Court shall hear a similar challenge filed by GLC part-time professor, Yasmin Tavaria..And now that the same challenge has been raised in at least two High Courts, the matter will hit the apex court sooner rather than later. When it does, it will mark a full circle of sorts for Clause 28; the BCI had earlier relied on a Supreme Court order to justify the “revival” of this contentious clause..(H/t to Bar & Bench reader Radhesham J)