Telangana Bar Council Appoints Two Women Co-Opted Members, Paving Way for Stalled Law Graduate Enrolments

The Telangana Bar Council has appointed two women co-opted members, Rohini Smitha and Jyothi Jadhav, following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The appointment, finalised on Wednesday by Telangana Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, is expected to break an eight-month impasse that had stalled the enrolment of law graduates since December 2025.

The move comes after a prolonged delay in constituting the newly elected Bar Council, which had prevented the resumption of enrolments and left hundreds of aspiring advocates in Hyderabad and across the state in limbo.

Background of the Impasse

Enrolments of law graduates came to a halt on December 14, 2025, when the Bar Council passed a resolution to suspend the process. A subsequent election notification was issued on December 20, 2025, and the enrolment committee and the disciplinary committee responsible for scrutinising graduates’ records were dissolved. Elections for the Bar Council were held in January 2026, with counting taking place between February 10 and March 24. Election authorities declared 23 advocates elected to the council on March 26.

However, the constitution of the new council was delayed because the appointment of two co-opted women members, a requirement under the Advocates Act, remained pending. This delay meant that the newly elected council could not formally take charge and resume the enrolment of law graduates.

Supreme Court Intervention and High Court Action

The Supreme Court of India directed the chief justices of respective high courts to finalise the selection of two women co-opted members to newly elected Bar Councils. Acting on this directive, Telangana Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with the newly elected council members and finalised the appointments. A communication from the registrar general of the Telangana High Court confirmed that Rohini Smitha and Jyothi Jadhav were nominated as co-opted members.

The appointment is expected to pave the way for the resumption of enrolments, which had been stalled for over eight months. Although enrolments had resumed temporarily through an interim arrangement, the Telangana High Court stayed the process on August 14, 2026. The Bar Council has stated that it will apprise the court of the legal position and seek the vacation of the stay.

Impact on Law Graduates

The prolonged suspension of enrolments has significantly affected law graduates who completed their degrees and are waiting to be enrolled as advocates. Without enrolment, they cannot practise in courts or gain the experience required for judicial service examinations.

Ayush Sharma, a law graduate from Hyderabad who completed his degree in 2023, said his application was rejected for failing to submit certain documents, including a study certificate, bona fide certificate and original degree certificate. While he is arranging the required documents, there has been no clarity on when enrolments will resume, he added. His case reflects the uncertainty faced by many graduates who have been unable to move forward with their careers.

Call for Prompt Enrolment

Bar Council of India Rules Committee member P Vishnu Vardhan Reddy stressed the need for prompt enrolment of law graduates under the Advocates Act, 1961. He argued that even brief delays prevent graduates from practising in courts and gaining the experience required for examinations for posts such as magistrates, district judges and public prosecutors.

“Enrolments should continue periodically regardless of whether Bar Council elections are pending or the results are delayed,” Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said. His comments highlight a broader concern about the systemic delays that affect the careers of young legal professionals in Telangana.

What This Means for Hyderabad’s Legal Community

For Hyderabad’s legal community, the appointment of the two co-opted women members signals a return to normalcy. The resumption of enrolments will allow hundreds of law graduates to register as advocates, begin practising in local courts, and prepare for competitive examinations. The development also underscores the role of the judiciary in ensuring that statutory bodies function without prolonged interruptions.

The Bar Council is now expected to reconstitute its enrolment and disciplinary committees and resume the scrutiny of applications. Law graduates who have been waiting since December 2025 can expect the process to restart in the coming weeks, pending the High Court’s response to the council’s submission.

Datos clave

Source: Times of India – Hyderabad. Telangana Bar Council co-opts two women members