In a recent decision, the Madras High Court quashed a public interest litigation aiming to lower the application fee for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The petition, filed by Advocate Gokul Abhimanyu, argued that the current fee of ₹3,500 was unjustifiably high and needed regulation under statutory provisions.
However, the bench comprising Acting Chief Justice R Mahadevan and Justice GR Swaminathan maintained that no statutory framework existed to cap the examination fee, unlike the enrollment fee under the Advocates Act. They emphasized that the fee in question, ₹3,500, did not constitute an exorbitant amount meriting judicial intervention.
“Without a statutory violation or evidence of excessive fees, our hands are tied in issuing a Writ of Mandamus,” remarked the High Court. Deputy Solicitor General of India K Govindarajan represented the Union government and the Bar Council of India, defending the fee’s reasonableness.
The ruling underscores the court’s stance on fee regulation in professional examinations, signaling a continuation of current fee structures until legislative changes intervene.
