NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has requested information regarding Mamata Banerjee’s status as a lawyer from the West Bengal Bar Council following her appearance at the Calcutta High Court on Thursday in full lawyer’s attire. The former Chief Minister of West Bengal, who served from 2011 to 2026, appeared in court to argue a public interest litigation concerning alleged post-poll violence following recent Assembly elections.
In a statement, the BCI addressed the West Bengal Bar Council, stating, “Having regard to the constitutional public office held by her during the said period, and without expressing any opinion at this stage on the permissibility or otherwise of such appearance, the Bar Council of India requires the factual status of her enrolment, practice, suspension, if any, and resumption, if any, to be verified from your records.”
The BCI outlined nine specific details that the State Bar Council must provide by May 16, 2016, including:
i. Her enrolment number with the State Bar Council of West Bengal. ii. The date of her enrolment. iii. Whether her name remains on the State Roll of Advocates. iv. Any notifications of voluntary suspension or cessation of practice during her tenure as Chief Minister. v. Dates and copies of any intimation regarding such suspension. vi. If she submitted an application for resumption of practice thereafter. vii. The date of any application for resumption and whether it was acknowledged by the State Bar Council. viii. Availability and status of a Certificate of Practice in her favor (valid, active, suspended, etc.). ix. Any other records related to her entitlement to practice during or after her time as Chief Minister.
The BCI stipulated that the requested information must be based on “contemporaneous official records” maintained by the West Bengal State Bar Council, including enrolment registers and records related to suspension or resumption of practice. The Council has also requested certified copies of all relevant documents, authenticated by the Secretary of the State Bar Council, along with specific page references and entry dates.
Furthermore, the BCI has instructed that all original records concerning the matter be preserved in their current state, prohibiting any alterations except as legally permitted, and only after notification to the BCI. The State Bar Council is required to submit its response within two days of receiving the BCI’s letter.
During her court appearance, Banerjee, dressed in a black lawyer’s coat and white bands over her trademark white saree with blue borders, presented evidence related to alleged violence and called upon the court to “protect the people of Bengal.” Her appearance intensified political tensions following the Trinamool Congress’s defeat in the Assembly elections. The public interest litigation was filed by advocate Sirsanya Banerjee, son of prominent Trinamool Congress leader and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee.
