Jammu and Kashmir High Court Makes AIBE Mandatory for Advocates

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has made the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) compulsory for certain advocates. The new rule covers law graduates from the 2009-10 academic year onwards. Qualified advocates must also submit their Certificate of Practice (COP) to the High Court Registry within one month.

Who Must Qualify AIBE Under the New High Court Rule?

The new notification applies to advocates enrolled with the Bar Council of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh who graduated in the 2009-10 academic year or later. Those who have not cleared the AIBE must pass the examination to practise law.

The High Court has issued the following directions.

What Is the Deadline for Submitting the AIBE Certificate?

Advocates enrolled after July 1, 2010, who have already cleared the AIBE must submit copies of their Certificates of Practice to the High Court Registry. The deadline is one month from the notification's issuance.

Fresh law graduates and provisionally enrolled advocates must qualify the AIBE and produce the COP issued by the Bar Council of India to receive an absolute enrolment certificate. The notification provides a two-year period for this process.

Why Has the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Made AIBE Mandatory?

The notification implements Rules 9, 10 and 11 of Chapter III, Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules.

The Rules Committee recommended the implementation on August 19, 2026. The Full Court approved the recommendation during its meeting on October 8, 2026.

Under Rule 9, enrolled advocates must pass the AIBE to practise under Chapter IV of the Advocates Act, 1961. The Bar Council of India issues the Certificate of Practice to successful candidates.

What Should Advocates Know About the AIBE Mandatory Rule?