THE proposed rule of Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana barring entry of a person in the profession after the age of 45 has fetched a mixed response from city advocates. While the veterans feel that the new rule defies logic and practicality, new entrants feel the rule will be fruitful for the new crop entering the profession.
Virinder Issar: I do not think that the proposed rule will do any good to the profession. At the age of 45, coming from an administrative sector, a person becomes seasoned and conditioned with the experiences of life. I do not think there should be any hitch in granting license to those who are qualified to become advocates after 45 years.
An assimilation of experience and expression is the most lethal combination one can possess in this profession, which normally a youngster lacks, and which, comes from passing a certain age.
S.C. Mehta: I am neither in favour of this rule nor against it. I think that the rule should be implemented, exempting those who are not directly related to the profession. For instance, Public Prosecutors and Additional District Attorneys will certainly be more beneficial for the profession than somebody coming from an electricity department. Barring these people, not related to the profession, others who are indirectly related to the profession should be granted license.
N.S. Minhas: I feel its a welcome decision and should be implemented. This would benefit the young generation that has entered the profession lately. People generally have a myth regarding our profession that older the advocate more the experience he has. When a client walks in and sees a grey-haired advocate, he will certainly opt for him, may be not knowing that he is as new to the profession as is a young lawyer.
Malkiat Singh: It takes more than five years to understand the legal procedure and settle down in this stream. The amount of time a 45-year-old will take to understand the nuances of the profession and then have the time to put that into practice, will definitely be less than all that a 24-year-old, who is just beginning out, will have.
Surinder: It’s a wise step taken by the Bar Council. This will cut down the traffic of people entering the profession. At the age of 45, you have it all, right from money to house, but a youngster is dependent for his expenses on his parents. Yet he has to maintain the status of an advocate, which is very difficult in this expensive scenario.
Dinesh Kumar: I wonder, at the age of 45, what will these grey haired people do? Will they have time to devote to the profession? I think they will be more busy with their geriatric problems. It’s a good decision as it will motivate young lawyers to enter into the profession.