Reporter’s Diary: When lawyers question Madras Bar Association’s selection procedure

The last time this association took in members, they selected only 25 of the 300 lawyers who applied for membership. This has now given rise to allegations that the MBA is partial and undemocratic in its functioning.

Moreover, three advocates even moved the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) stating that the association did not follow any rule for either selecting their members or rejecting the 275 other applicants.

Started in 1865, the MBA used to be open only for barristers, but it continues to hold the same aura and is described as the ‘House of Lords’ because it caters to a select group. 

On the other hand, MHAA, which came into being in 1889 is known as the ‘House of Commons’ meant for all advocates who are willing to become its member while the WLA meant exclusively for women had come into being only in 1963.

BCTNP governing council, however, held that MBA has every right to restrict its membership. But at the same time, it should be based on uniform norms. It also stated it cannot be left to the few elected governing body members of the MBA to select the new members on their “sweet will”.