Karnataka High Court directs law school to remove ads featuring lawyer in gown

The Karnataka High Court has directed an educational trust running a law school to remove promotional banners and flexes featuring a person in an advocate's attire, citing a violation of the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules. The court granted the trust eight weeks to comply with the order and stall any coercive action for the same period.

The Karnataka High Court recently directed Bharathi Education Society Trust, which runs a law school in the state, to remove promotional banners and flexes featuring a person in an advocate's attire. The court's decision was made on June 22, after considering a plea filed by the trust challenging an order from the Panchayat Development Officer to remove such advertisements. The court noted that the local authority was right to flag these ads as violating the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules prohibit any advertisement featuring a person in an advocate's attire, except for those approved by the BCI itself. The rules are designed to maintain the dignity and integrity of the legal profession. In this case, the Panchayat Development Officer had ordered the removal of the offending banners and warned of action if they were not removed. The trust challenged this order in court, arguing that only the offensive parts of the banners could be removed.

The Karnataka High Court's decision highlights the importance of maintaining the dignity and integrity of the legal profession. By prohibiting advertisements featuring lawyers in their attire, the BCI Rules aim to prevent any potential misuse or exploitation of the legal profession for commercial gain. The court's order also underscores the need for regulatory bodies to take proactive steps to enforce these rules and maintain public trust in the legal system.

The Karnataka High Court's decision will likely have implications for law schools and educational institutions across the state, which may need to review their advertising practices to ensure compliance with the BCI Rules. Practitioners should be aware of this development and take steps to ensure that their own advertising practices are in line with these rules.