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In force

The Advocates Act, 1961

80 sections · As amended up to 2026-08

Sections

  1. VII — TEMPORARY AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
  2. 1Ins. by Act 26 of 1968, s. 3 and Sch. (w.e.f. 24-5-1968)
  3. I — PRELIMINARY
  4. 2Definitions
  5. II — BAR COUNCILS
  6. 3Ins. by Act 70 of 1993, s. 2 (w.e.f. 26-12-1993)
  7. 4Bar Council of India
  8. 5Clause (e) omitted by Act 23 of 1966, s. 3 (w.e.f. 3-9-1966)
  9. 6Functions of State Bar Councils
  10. 7Functions of Bar Council of India
  11. 7AMembership in international bodies
  12. 8Term of office of members of State Bar Council
  13. 8AConstitution of Special Committee in the absence of election
  14. 9Disciplinary committees
  15. 9AConstitution of legal aid committees
  16. 10Constitution of committees other than disciplinary committees
  17. 10ATransaction of business by Bar Councils and committees thereof
  18. 11Staff of Bar Council
  19. 12Accounts and Audit
  20. 13Vacancies in Bar Council and committees thereof not to invalidate action taken
  21. 14Election to Bar Councils not to be questioned on certain grounds
  22. 15Power to make rules
  23. III — ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT OF ADVOCATES
  24. 16Senior and other advocates
  25. 17State Bar Councils to maintain roll of advocates
  26. 18Transfer of name from one State roll to another
  27. 19State Bar Councils to send copies of rolls of advocates to the Bar Council of India
  28. 20Special provision for enrolment of certain Supreme Court advocates
  29. 21Disputes regarding seniority
  30. 22Certificate of enrolment
  31. 23Right of pre-audience
  32. 24Persons who may be admitted as advocates on a State roll
  33. 24ADisqualification for enrolment
  34. 25Authority to whom applications for enrolment may be made
  35. 26Disposal of applications for admission as an advocate
  36. 26APower to remove names from roll
  37. 27Application once refused not to be entertained by another Bar Council except in certain circumstance
  38. 28Power to make rules
  39. IV — RIGHT TO PRACTISE
  40. 29Advocates to be the only recognised class of persons entitled to practise law
  41. 30Right of advocates to practise
  42. 32Power of court to permit appearances in particular cases
  43. 33Advocates alone entitled to practise
  44. 34Power of High Courts to make rules
  45. V — CONDUCT OF ADVOCATES
  46. 35Punishment of advocates for misconduct
  47. 36Disciplinary powers of Bar Council of India
  48. 36AChanges in constitution of disciplinary committees
  49. 36BDisposal of disciplinary proceedings
  50. 37Appeal to the Bar Council of India
  51. 38Appeal to the Supreme Court
  52. 39Application of sections 5 and 12 of Limitation Act, 1963
  53. 40Stay of order
  54. 41Alteration in roll of advocates
  55. 42Powers of disciplinary committee
  56. 42APowers of Bar Council of India and other committees
  57. 43Cost of proceedings before a disciplinary committees
  58. 44Review of orders by disciplinary committee
  59. VI — MISCELLANEOUS
  60. 45Penalty for persons illegally practising in courts and before other authorities
  61. 46AFinancial assistance to State Bar Council
  62. 47Reciprocity
  63. 48Indemnity against legal proceedings
  64. 48APower of revision
  65. 48AAReview
  66. 48BPower to give directions
  67. 49General power of the Bar Council of India to make rules
  68. 49APower of Central Government to make rules
  69. 50Repeal of certain enactments
  70. 51Rule of construction
  71. 52Saving
  72. VII — TEMPORARY AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
  73. 53Elections to first State Bar Council
  74. 54Term of office of members of first State Bar Councils
  75. 55Rights of certain existing legal practitioners not affected
  76. 56Dissolution of existing Bar Councils
  77. 57Power to make rules pending the constitution of a Bar Council
  78. 58Special provisions during the transitional period
  79. 58ASpecial provisions with respect to certain advocates
  80. 58AASpecial provisions in relation to the Union territory of Pondicherry
  81. 58ACSpecial provisions with respect to certain persons enrolled by Uttar Pradesh State Bar Council
  82. 58ADSpecial provisions with respect to certain persons migrating to India
  83. 58AESpecial provisions in relation to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu
  84. 58AFSpecial provisions in relation to Jammu and Kashmir
  85. 58AGSpecial provisions in relation to articled clerks
  86. 58BSpecial provision relating to certain disciplinary proceedings
  87. 59Removal of difficulties
  88. 60Power of Central Government to make rules