Karnataka HC asks law colleges to remove banners with people in advocate attire
The Karnataka High Court told a Mandya law college to replace banners showing a person in advocate attire. It said publicity must promote the course and institution, not individuals, in line with BCI rules.
The Karnataka High Court has directed a law college in Mandya district of Karnataka to replace its promotional banners carrying the image of a person dressed in an advocate's attire, observing that such publicity could violate the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules that prohibit individual advertisements by advocates.
Justice BM Shyam Prasad passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by Bharathi Education Society Trust, which had challenged a June 2 communication issued by the Panchayat Development Officer of Bharathinagara Grama Panchayat directing the institution to remove the banners.
BCI RULES ARE AGAINST ADVERTISEMENTS BY INDIVIDUALS
The court noted that the buntings displayed "the image of a person in what could be the attire prescribed for Advocates" and observed that the BCI Rules are against advertisements by individuals. It added that the promotional material should instead focus on the law degree programme and the institution itself.
Recording the undertaking, the High Court directed the Trust to replace the existing banners with banners highlighting the law course and institutional details, while removing images of any individual, including students, that could raise concerns under the BCI Rules.
The court also directed the Panchayat Development Officer to defer any coercive action during this period. Once the banners are replaced, the Trust has been asked to file an affidavit confirming compliance, following which the authorities will reconsider the matter without affecting the institution's recognition or its agreement with the Panchayat.
The Karnataka High Court has directed a law college in Mandya district of Karnataka to replace its promotional banners carrying the image of a person dressed in an advocate's attire, observing that such publicity could violate the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules that prohibit individual advertisements by advocates.
Justice BM Shyam Prasad passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by Bharathi Education Society Trust, which had challenged a June 2 communication issued by the Panchayat Development Officer of Bharathinagara Grama Panchayat directing the institution to remove the banners.
BCI RULES ARE AGAINST ADVERTISEMENTS BY INDIVIDUALS
The court noted that the buntings displayed "the image of a person in what could be the attire prescribed for Advocates" and observed that the BCI Rules are against advertisements by individuals. It added that the promotional material should instead focus on the law degree programme and the institution itself.
Recording the undertaking, the High Court directed the Trust to replace the existing banners with banners highlighting the law course and institutional details, while removing images of any individual, including students, that could raise concerns under the BCI Rules.
The court also directed the Panchayat Development Officer to defer any coercive action during this period. Once the banners are replaced, the Trust has been asked to file an affidavit confirming compliance, following which the authorities will reconsider the matter without affecting the institution's recognition or its agreement with the Panchayat.
The Karnataka High Court has directed a law college in Mandya district of Karnataka to replace its promotional banners carrying the image of a person dressed in an advocate's attire, observing that such publicity could violate the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules that prohibit individual advertisements by advocates.
Justice BM Shyam Prasad passed the order while disposing of a writ petition filed by Bharathi Education Society Trust, which had challenged a June 2 communication issued by the Panchayat Development Officer of Bharathinagara Grama Panchayat directing the institution to remove the banners.
BCI RULES ARE AGAINST ADVERTISEMENTS BY INDIVIDUALS
The court noted that the buntings displayed "the image of a person in what could be the attire prescribed for Advocates" and observed that the BCI Rules are against advertisements by individuals. It added that the promotional material should instead focus on the law degree programme and the institution itself.
Recording the undertaking, the High Court directed the Trust to replace the existing banners with banners highlighting the law course and institutional details, while removing images of any individual, including students, that could raise concerns under the BCI Rules.
The court also directed the Panchayat Development Officer to defer any coercive action during this period. Once the banners are replaced, the Trust has been asked to file an affidavit confirming compliance, following which the authorities will reconsider the matter without affecting the institution's recognition or its agreement with the Panchayat.
