On Friday, July 18, the Kerala High Court issued a notice on a plea filed by a law student challenging the Mahatma Gandhi University (MG University) regulation that limits internships under trial and appellate advocates to a maximum of two. The student has questioned the constitutional validity of this regulation.
The petitioner is a second-year law student at Government Law College, Ernakulam, which is affiliated to MG University. According to the petition, the Bar Council of India (BCI) mandates a minimum internship period of 12 weeks, but it does not impose any upper limit.
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“The petitioner is an aspiring law student aiming to pursue a career in litigation, and the cap imposed by the University violates his fundamental rights.”
The plea states that the regulation is in violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India. It also points out that the BCI Rules of Legal Education, 2008, do not support such a restriction.
When the matter came up for consideration, standing counsels for the BCI (1st respondent) and MG University (2nd respondent) accepted the notice. The government pleader also accepted notice on behalf of the 3rd respondent, Government Law College.
“Justice T.R. Ravi admitted the writ petition and granted time to the respondents to file their counter-affidavits.”
The next hearing of the matter is scheduled for August 11, 2025.
The petition has been filed through Advocates Raghul Sudheesh, J. Lakshmi, Ambily T. Venu, Unnikrishnan S. Thandayaan, and Umadevi M.
Case Title: Aswin R. vs. Bar Council of India and Others
Case Number: WP (C) No. 26313 of 2025