Advocate Act, 1961 Section 7

¹ [(1)]The functions of the Bar Council of India shall be-

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(b) to lay downstandards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates;

(c) to lay down the procedure to befollowed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committeeof each State Bar Council;

(d) to safeguard therights, privileges and interests of advocates;

(e) to promote andsupport law reform;

(f) to deal with and dispose of anymatter arising under this Act, which may be referred to it by a StateBar Council;

(g) to exercise generalsupervision and control over State Bar Councils;

(h) to promote legaleducation and to lay down standards of such education in consultationwith the Universities in India imparting such education and the StateBar Councils;

(i) torecognise Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualificationfor enrolment as an advocate and for that purpose to visit andinspect Universities ³ [orcause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities inaccordance with such directions as it may give in this behalf];

⁴ [(ia)to conduct seminars and organize talks on legal topics by eminentjurists and publish journals and papers of legal interest;

(ib) to organize legalaid to the poor in the prescribed manner;

(ic) torecognize on a reciprocal basis foreign qualifications in lawobtained outside India for the purpose of admission as advocate underthis Act;]

(j) to manage andinvest the funds of the Bar Council;

(k) to provide for theelection of its members;

(l) to perform allother functions conferred on it by or under this Act;

(m) to doall other things necessary for discharging the aforesaid functions.

⁵ [(2)The Bar Council of India may constitute one or more funds in theprescribed manner for the purpose of-

(a) giving financialassistance to organize welfare schemes for indigent, disabled orother advocates;

(b) giving legal aid or advice in accordance with the rules made inthis behalf;]

⁶ [(c)establishing law libraries.]

(3) The Bar Council ofIndia may receive any grants, donations, gifts or benefactions forall or any of the purposes specified in sub-section (2) which shallbe credited to the appropriate fund or funds constituted under thatSub-section].

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1. Section7 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 60 of 1973, Section 7.

2. Clause(a) omitted by Act 60 of 1973, section 7.

3. Insertedby Act 70 of 1993, section 3(i).

4. Insertedby Act 60 of 1973, section 7.

5. Sub-sections(2) and (3) inserted by Act 60 of 1973, section 7.

6. Insertedby Act 70 of 1993, section 3 (ii).