Is Mamata Banerjee entitled to practice as lawyer? BCI seeks enrolment details

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed the Bar Council of West Bengal to furnish details on the enrolment and practice status of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after she appeared before the Calcutta High Court wearing advocate robes..In a letter dated May 14, 2026, Principal Secretary Srimanto Sen said that the BCI Rules prescribe standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates. It also referred to rules governing the dress to be worn by advocates appearing before the Supreme Court, High Courts, subordinate courts, tribunals and other authorities..The BCI noted that Banerjee served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2011 to 2026.“Having regard to the constitutional public office held by her during the said period and without expressing any opinion at this stage on the permissibility or otherwise of such appearance, the Bar Council of India requires the factual status of her enrolment, practice, suspension, if any, and resumption, if any, to be verified from your records,” the letter stated..The State Bar Council has been asked to provide the information within two days, before May 16.The details sought include Banerjee’s enrolment number, if she is enrolled with the State Bar Council of West Bengal and the date of enrolment. It has also asked whether her name continues to remain on the State Roll of Advocates.The Council has further asked whether Banerjee had, during her tenure as Chief Minister, given any intimation of voluntary suspension, suspension of practice or cessation from practice. It has also sought details on whether she later applied for resumption of practice and whether such request was accepted or recorded by the State Bar Council..The BCI has also asked whether any certificate of practice or practice-status record in Banerjee’s favour is available with the State Bar Council, and whether it is valid, active, suspended or otherwise.The letter further asks whether any record, intimation, communication, order or entry exists concerning Banerjee’s entitlement to practice during or after her tenure as Chief Minister.The BCI has directed that the information be based strictly on contemporaneous official records, including the State Roll, enrolment register, certificate of practice records, suspension or cessation records, resumption records, inward receipt registers and related file notings..It has also asked for certified copies of all supporting documents and directed that the original records be preserved in their present form.“Pending submission of the reply, the concerned original records shall be preserved in their present form and no alteration, correction, overwriting, interpolation or reconstruction of any record relating to the above subject may be undertaken except in accordance with law and after due intimation to the Bar Council of India,” the letter said..[Read Notice]