Nuns and priests can practice as advocates: Kerala HC

Kochi – A division bench of the Kerala High Court has upheld the order of a single bench that being a priest or nun cannot be a disqualification for enrolling as an advocate.

The division bench gave the verdict, March 21, after the Kerala Bar Council (CBC) approached to stay the single bench verdict that was passed last year.

Dismissing the arguments of the Bar Council that nuns and priests cannot be enrolled because they are already engaged in a profession, the Division Bench upheld the earlier single bench verdict as it observed that with the enrolment of priests and nuns, the advocate profession would only be benefited and so would be the ordinary people.

The order said there should be no problem in them becoming advocates, since there was no bar on them working in government or semi–government organizations. Moreover, the way they have conducted themselves in their professions is commendable, the court observed.

Consequent to the verdict by Chief Justice V.K. Bali and Justice J.B. Koshy, nuns and priests like Sister Teena Jose, Sister Tresa and Father Thomas Puthussery would now be able to practice as advocates.