Court rules that registered Homoeopathy practitioners must cancel medical registration before enrolling as advocates to ensure professional integrity.
In a significant judgment delivered on May 18, 2026, the Kerala High Court, presided over by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, has upheld the Bar Council of Kerala's decision to deny enrolment as an advocate to T.M. Manju, a registered Homoeopathy practitioner, until she cancels her medical registration. The court emphasized the need for undivided professional allegiance and maintained that the Bar Council's insistence on cancelling the medical registration is a reasonable restriction aligned with public interest and professional ethics.
The petitioner, T.M. Manju, after completing her LL.B degree and clearing the All India Bar Examination, applied for enrolment as an advocate. However, her application was withheld by the Bar Council due to her existing registration as a Homoeopathy practitioner. Despite her undertaking to not practice medicine while pursuing law, the Bar Council required a formal cancellation of her medical registration.
Justice Thomas highlighted that the legal profession demands full-time commitment and does not permit divided loyalties. The court observed that the Bar Council of Kerala's rules, which prevent individuals engaged in another profession from enrolling as advocates, are consistent with the professional ethics expected in the legal field. The court further referenced the Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act, 2021, which restricts registered medical practitioners from pursuing another profession without council approval.
The judgment cites precedents such as the Supreme Court's decision in Dr. Haniraj L. Chulani v. Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, supporting the rationale that a professional engaged in another field cannot simultaneously practice law. The court's decision reinforces the Bar Council's authority to regulate entry into the legal profession to uphold its integrity and focus.
The judgment has broader implications for professionals seeking to transition into law, emphasizing the necessity to fully disengage from their previous professions to ensure dedication to the legal field. This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to preserving the sanctity of the legal profession by preventing dual engagements that could compromise professional ethics and performance.
Bottom line:-
A registered medical practitioner of Homoeopathy can be denied permission to enrol as an Advocate unless the registration as a Homoeopath is cancelled. The Bar Council is within its authority to restrict enrolment to individuals not actively or potentially engaged in another profession.
Statutory provision(s): Advocates Act, 1961 Section 24, Bar Council of Kerala Rules, 1979 Rule 2(h), Kerala State Medical Practitioners Act, 2021 Sections 30, 31, 36, Constitution of India, 1950 Article 19(1)(g) and 19(6).
T.M. Manju v. Bar Council of Kerala, (Kerala) : Law Finder Doc id # 2901591
