Bar Council allows foreign lawyers to practice in India

NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India(BCI) has allowed foreign lawyers and law firms to practice foreign law and diverse international law and international arbitration matters in India.

The council said, "Taking an all-inclusive view, the Bar Council of India resolves to implement rules enabling the foreign lawyers and Foreign Law Firms to practice foreign law and diverse international law and international arbitration matters in India on the principle of reciprocity in a well defined, regulated and controlled manner."

However, foreign lawyers are not permitted to appear in cases of a litigious nature. Hence, they cannot appear in the courts and tribunals of the country. The aim of the Bar Council is to make India a hub for international commercial arbitration.