The Bar Association of India (BAI) has approached the Supreme Court seeking the creation of an Aadhaar-like digital registry for advocates across the country to enable real-time verification of lawyers' credentials and address the growing problem of fake legal practitioners [Bar Association of India & Anr. v Union of India & Ors.].

The petition proposes setting up a National Digital Registry for the Legal Profession of India (NDRLP), a centralised technology-based platform that would assign every advocate a unique identification number linked to verified educational qualifications, enrolment details and disciplinary records.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana, while hearing the matter, observed that inputs from multiple stakeholders would be necessary before undertaking such an exercise.

Describing the proposal as a potentially significant reform, CJI Surya Kant said that all law universities would have to be made parties to the proceedings and asked to disclose details of genuine law graduates from their institutions.

"Looks like a novel reform, but all law universities have to be made parties and they should disclose who are the bona fide law graduates from those institutes," the CJI remarked.

Appearing for the BAI, counsel informed the Court that an interim policy paper would be placed on record and also suggested that the code of conduct governing lawyers requires updating.

The Court indicated that it may consider constituting a fresh committee to examine the issues raised in the petition. During the hearing, the Bench also referred to inappropriate public statements made by individuals who may be falsely presenting themselves as legal professionals.

"We may have to constitute a new committee with a new composition. We can show you a sample of what kind of nasty statements are being made, and I am sure they have nothing to do with law," CJI Kant observed.

Highlighting the need to strengthen the legal profession and support younger lawyers, the CJI stressed the importance of integrating them into mainstream practice.

"Advocates are very responsible. Young members of the bar have to be strengthened. Unless they are trained and brought to mainstream and given some space in overcrowded courts, this problem will happen. Some young lawyers have formed real constructive associations. That is the silver lining," he said.

The matter is scheduled to be listed on the first Monday after the Supreme Court's ongoing summer vacation.

In its petition, the BAI argued that the legal profession is facing a structural governance crisis due to the absence of a unified, publicly accessible mechanism to verify advocates' credentials.

"The governance of the legal profession has encountered a structural failure of systemic proportions: there is no single, publicly verifiable, real-time national record of who is enrolled as an advocate in India," the plea states.

The association pointed to the fragmented enrolment system currently maintained by 23 State Bar Councils, which it said lacks uniform standards, real-time interoperability and an instant verification mechanism for courts, litigants and authorities.

According to the petition, the proposed NDRLP would create a permanent nationwide digital infrastructure featuring a unique identifier for every advocate, verified educational qualifications, real-time enrolment status and publicly accessible professional profiles.

The registry, envisaged on lines similar to the Aadhaar system, would also allow litigants to verify lawyers through simple digital tools.

The BAI argued that the initiative would enhance confidence in India's legal system and strengthen its reputation as a rule-of-law-based democracy and investment destination.

Additionally, the petition has sought directions to the Bar Council of India to frame a comprehensive regulatory framework governing advocates' conduct on social media, citing concerns over solicitation, misleading self-promotion and the erosion of public trust in the justice delivery system.

Advocate Vipin Nair appeared for the BAI along with its President Prashant Kumar.