Odisha Bar Council Orders Non-Practising Lawyers to Surrender Licences Within a Month

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Bar Council has directed lawyers who are engaged in activities other than practising law to surrender their licences within one month, warning of disciplinary action against defaulters.

According to the Bar Council, several lawyers are involved in business, jobs in private companies, government entities, or hold offices of profit, despite holding licences to practise law. This, the council said, violates the norms of the Advocates Act, 1961.

The move follows a resolution passed by the council on April 12, 2025, deciding to take strict action against non-practising lawyers.

The council has also instructed all bar associations in Odisha to enforce the directive. If the lawyers fail to surrender their licences within the stipulated time, the associations have been asked to suspend the licences and initiate criminal proceedings against them.

In a statement, the council emphasized that lawyers holding licences must engage exclusively in legal practice and that violations will not be tolerated.

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