The Kerala High Court on Monday held that being a priest or nun in itself cannot be a disqualification for enrolment as
advocates and quashed the Bar Council Enrolment Committee's decision not to take in a priest and two nuns as lawyers.
Allowing three petitions filed by two nuns -- sister Tina Jose and sister M Tessy -- and priest Thomas Pudussery, Justice K Balakrishnan Nair directed the Bar Council to reconsider their applications within a month.
Both the central and state bar councils had opposed enrolling priests and nuns as advocates, which was challenged by the petitioners.
The bench observed that enrolment of priests and nuns would bring 'lustre' to the profession. The profession needs selfless, dedicated persons to take up the cause of downtrodden and not being concerned with the fees paid.
"Being a priest or nun by itself cannot be a disqualification for enrolling as advocates. If a priest or nun is employed as a full time teacher or nurse, then he or she may be ineligible," the court held.
In such cases, they could be asked to quit employment as a condition for enrolment, the judge observed.
The court held that no one joins priesthood or nunhood as an employment for the purpose of earning a livelihood. The person who joins the profession of dignity, dedicate their life to serve God and men.
So, by merely being a priest or nun, they are not engaged in any profession, which is prescribed by the Bar council of
Kerala rules.
