First Online Enrolment Ceremony: Kerala Bar Council to conduct Ceremony on June 27 [Read Notification]

In a first, the Kerala Bar Council has planned to conduct an online, virtual enrolment ceremony for new entrants to the legal profession on June 27 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. .A notification issued regarding the same intimates that the decision was taken while also considering the loss of seniority in enrolment if it is delayed further. .The development comes in the heels of a plea being moved before the Kerala High Court last month, wherein grievance was raised over the enrolment function being indefinitely prolonged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. .The Kerala Bar Council's views on the proposal to conduct an online enrolment ceremony was also sought at the time. .Should enrolments be conducted via video conferencing amid COVID-19 Lockdown? Kerala HC seeks Kerala Bar Council's response.The online enrolment ceremony will be held via a Cisco Webex meeting after three trial runs scheduled for June 16, 17 and 26. .The online enrolment will be conducted only after the successful completion of trial run for eligible candidates. Those candidates who do not attend the final trial will be deemed to be excluded from the final enrolment function..Eligible candidates who wish to opt for the online enrolment are required to give their consent through the Kerala Bar Council website, by logging in with the user ID and password created at the time of regisistering for enrolment. .The notification adds, Those who are willing to participate in the online enrolment process shall file an undertaking on stamp paper worth Rs. 100/- stating that all the documents uploaded in the website are absolutely genuin. The originals of the said documents will be produced before the Bar Council of Kerala for personal verification as and when called for. In case any disparity or fraudulent certificate is found on verification, appropriate legal action and cancellation of enrolment will be initiated against the candidate. The undertaking shall be self-attested by the candidate. The undertaking has to be uploaded in the website on or before June 16 and the original undertaking shall be forwarded to the Secretary, Bar Council of Kerala by Speed post within June 17..In case of non-availability of smartphone/ desktops/laptops etc. the candidates can use the facility through Akshaya centre or any other similar service provider. Only eligible candidates will be allowed. Defective applications will not be entertained..Read the notification: