Lawyers move Madhya Pradesh High Court against ads, celebrity endorsements promoting legal services

Three lawyers have moved Madhya Pradesh High Court against a series of sponsored advertisements and celebrity endorsements that promote online legal services.

At the core of the dispute are advertisements on YouTube featuring a popular actor portraying a judicial persona and urging viewers to purchase “the best online legal services” through pre-priced packages.

As per the plea, a cease-and-desist notice was first issued to YouTube on January 10, 2025. On February 21, the platform responded by denying the applicability of the Advocates Act. A week later, the petitioners lodged a detailed complaint before the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the State Bar Council.

After the authorities failed to take action, the lawyers moved the High Court.

The plea contends that these advertisements, circulated on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, mislead the public by projecting legal services in fixed price marketable packages, thereby undermining the dignity of the legal profession and violating the BCI Rules.

The petitioners argue that such portrayals amount to nothing less than the commercialisation of the profession and the reduction of advocacy to a mere e-commerce product, in direct contravention of Rules 36 and 37 of the BCI Rules, which prohibit advertising, solicitation and commercial promotion by advocates.

Through this plea, the advocates seek the immediate removal of all sponsored advertisements, reels and promotional content soliciting legal work.

They also pray for directions to the BCI, the State Bar Council and relevant Union ministries to monitor and prevent the recurrence of such advertising.

Further, the plea urges that accountability be fixed on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram for hosting and monetizing such unlawful content, particularly in light of the Madras High Court’s ruling in PN Vignesh v. Bar Council of India (2024), which refused to extend blanket safe-harbour protections to intermediaries when illegal content is promoted.

Finally, the lawyers request that all unlawful gains derived from such activities be deposited into the Advocates’ Welfare Fund.

The plea has been filed by Advocates Prashant Upadhyay, Harsh Kushwaha and Prashant Yadav.