The Legal Practitioners Act, 1879
PREAMBLE

SECTIONS

1. [Repealed.].

2. [Repealed.].

3. [Repealed.].

4. [Repealed.].

5. [Repealed.].

6. [Repealed.].

7. [Repealed.].

8. [Repealed.].

9. [Repealed.].

10. [Repealed.].

11. [Repealed.].

12. [Repealed.].

13.  [Repealed.].

14. [Repealed.].

15. [Repealed.].

16. [Repealed.].

17. [Repealed.].

18. [Repealed.].

19. [Repealed.].

20 [Repealed.].

21.[Repealed.].


# THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ACT, 1879

__________

# ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
 __________

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

CHAPTER II

OF ADVOCATES, VAKILS AND ATTORNEYS

CHAPTER III

OF PLEADERS AND MUKHTARS

CHAPTER IV

OF REVENUE-AGENTS

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SECTIONS

22. [Repealed.].

23. [Repealed.].

24. [Repealed.].

25. [Repealed.].

26. [Repealed.].


CHAPTER V

OF CERTIFICATES

CHAPTER VI


OF THE REMUNERATION OF PLEADERS, MUKHTARS AND REVENUE-AGENTS

27. [Repealed.].

28. [Repealed.].

29. [Repealed.].

30. [Repealed.].

31. [Repealed.].

CHAPTER VII

PENALTIES

32. [Repealed.].

33. [Repealed.].

34. [Repealed.].

35. [Repealed.].

36. [Repealed.].

CHAPTER VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

37. [Repealed.].

38. [Repealed.].

39. [Repealed.].

40. [Repealed.].

41. [Repealed.].

42. [Repealed].

THE FIRST SCHEDULE.—[Repealed.].

THE SECOND SCHEDULE.—VALUE OF STAMPS FOR CERTIFICATES.

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# THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ACT, 1879

 ACT NO. 18 OF 1879[1]

[29th October, 1879.]

# An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Legal Practitioners.

**Preamble.—WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to**

Legal Practitioners in [2][certain Provinces, and to empower the Provincial Government of
every other Province to extend thereto] such portions of this Act as such Government may
think fit; It is hereby enacted as follows:—

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

**1.** [Short title. commencement.] _Rep. by the Advocates (Amendment) Act,_ 2023 (33 _of_ 2023),

_s. 3 (w.e.f. 30-9-2024).]._

**2.** [Repeal of enactments .] _Rep. by the Repealing Act,_ 1938 (1 of 1938), _s._ 2 _and_

_Schedule._

**3. [Interpretation-clause.]** _Rep. by the Advocates (Amendment) Act,_ 2023 (33 _of 2023),_ _s._ 3

(w.e.f. 30-9-2024).]

CHAPTER II

OF ADVOCATES, VAKILS AND ATTORNEYS

**4.** [Advocates and Vakils.] _Rep. by the Advocates Act,_ 1961 (25 _of_ 1961), _s._ 50 (3)

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**5. [Attorneys of High Court.] Rep. by s. 50(3),** ibid. (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

CHAPTER III

OF PLEADERS AND MUKHTARS

**6. [Powers to make rules as to qualifications, etc., of pleaders and mukhtars. Publication of rules.]**

_Rep. by the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50 (2) (w.e.f. 1-12-1961)._

**7.** [Certificates to pleaders and mukhtars.] Rep. by s. 50 (2), ibid. (w.e.f. 1-12-1961).

**8.** [Pleaders on enrolment may practise in Courts and revenue-offices.] _Rep. s._ 50 (5), ibid.

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**9.** [Mukhtars on enrolment may practise in Courts.] _Rep. by_ _s._ 50 (5), ibid.

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

1. This Act has been extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941). It has been declared to be in force in the Angul

District by the Angul Laws Regulation, 1936 (5 of 1936), s. 3 and Sch., and also by notification under s. 3 of the Scheduled
Districts Act, 1874 (14 of 1874), in the Districts of Hazaribagh, Lohardaga and Manbhum and Pargana Dhalbhum and the
Kolhan in the District of Singbhum, see Gazette of India, 1881, Pt. I, p. 504. The District of Lohardaga (now called the Ranchi
District, see Calcutta Gazette, 1889, Pt. I, p. 44) included at this time the District of Palamau, which was separated in 1894.

It has been amended in its application to—
Bengal by Ben. Act 5 of 1942 ;
C. P. and Berar by C. P. & Berar Act 25 of 1939;
Madras by Mad. Acts 3 of 1943, 14 of 1944, 9 of 1947, 17 of 1950 and 12 of 1960;
Orissa by Orissa Act 6 of 1938; and
U. P. by U.P. Acts 4 of 1925 and 4 of 1936.
The Act has not been extended to the State of Manipur, vide Act 30 of 1950, s. 3 and Sch. I as amended by Act 68 of 1956.
The Act has been extended to the whole of Madhya Pradesh by M.P. Act 23 of 1958 (when notified) and to transferred

territories in Punjab by Punjab Act 41 of 1960.

2. Subs. by the A. O. 1948, for “the Lower Provinces of Bengal, the North-Western Provinces, the Punjab, Oudh, the Central

Provinces and Assam, and to empower each of the Local Governments of the rest of British India to extend to the territories
administered by it”.

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**10.** [No person to practise as pleader or mukhtar unless qualified.] Rep. by s. 50 (3), ibid.

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**11. [Power to declare functions of mukhtars.] Rep. by s. 50 (5), ibid.** (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**12. [Suspension and dismissal of pleaders and mukhtars convicted of criminal offence.] Rep by**

_s. 50 (4), ibid. (w.e.f 1-9-1963)._

**13. [Suspension and dismissal of pleaders and mukhtars guilty of unprofessional conduct.] Rep. by s.**

50 (4), ibid. (w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

**14.** [Procedure when charge of unprofessional conduct is brought in Court or revenue office.

_Suspension pending investigation.] Rep. by the Advocates Act,_ 1961 (25 _of_ 1961), _s._ 50 (4)
_(w.e.f. 1-9-1963)._

**15.** [Power to call for record in case of acquittal under section 14.] _Rep. by s._ 50 (4), ibid.

(w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

**16.** [Power to make rules for mukhtars on appellate side of High Court.] _Rep. by s._ 50 (5), ibid.

_(w.e.f. 15-6-2011)._

CHAPTER IV

OF REVENUE-AGENTS

**17.** [Power to make rules as to qualifications, etc., of revenue-agents.] _Rep. by the Advocates Act,_

1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50 (5) (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**18. [Certificates to revenue-agents.] Rep. by s. 50** (2), ibid. (w.e.f. 1-12-1961).

**19. [Enrolment of revenue-agent.] Rep. by s. 50 (5), ibid.** (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**20.** [No person to act as agent in revenue-offices unless qualified.] _Rep. by s._ 50 (3), ibid.

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**21.** [Dismissal of revenue-agent convicted of criminal offence.] _Rep. by s. 50(4),_ ibid.

(w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

**22.** [Suspension and dismissal of revenue-agents guilty of unprofessional conduct.] Rep. by

_s. 50(4), ibid._ _(w.e.f. 1-9-1963)._

**23.** [Procedure when revenue-agent is so charged in subordinate office.] Rep. by

_s. 50 (4),_ ibid. (w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

**24.** [Power to Chief Controlling Revenue-authority to call for record.] _Rep. by_ _s._ 50 (4), _ibid._

(w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

CHAPTER V

OF CERTIFICATES

**25.** [Fee for certificates.] Rep. by the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 _of_ 1961), _s._ 50 (5)

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**26. [Dismissed practitioners to surrender certificates.] Rep. by s. 50(5), ibid.** (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

CHAPTER VI

OF THE REMUNERATION OF PLEADERS, MUKHTARS AND REVENUE-AGENTS

**27. [High Court and Chief Controlling Revenue-authority to fix fees on civil and revenue-**

_proceedings.] Rep. by the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50 (5)_ (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**28. [Agreements with clients.] Rep. by the Legal Practitioners (Fees) Act, 1926 (21 of 1926), s. 6.**

**29. [Power to modify or cancel agreements.] Rep. by s. 6,** ibid.

**30. [Agreements to exclude further claims.] Rep. by s. 6,** ibid.

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**31. [Reservation of responsibility for negligence.] Rep. by s. 6, ibid.**

CHAPTER VII

PENALTIES

**32.** [On persons illegally practising as pleaders, mukhtars or revenue-agents.] Rep. by the

_Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50 (5)_ (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**33.** [On suspended or dismissed pleader, etc., failing to deliver certificate.] Rep. by the

_Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50 (5)_ (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**34.** [On suspended or dismissed practitioner practising during suspension or after

_dismissal.] Rep. by s. 50 (5), ibid.  (w.e.f. 15-6-2011)._

**35. [Revision of fines.] Rep. by s. 50 (5), ibid.** (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**36.** [Power to frame and publish lists of touts .] _Rep. by the Advocates (Amendment) Act, 2023_

(33 of 2023), s. 3 (w.e.f. 30-9-2024).

CHAPTER VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

**37. [State Government to appoint examiners.] Rep. by the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50(2)**

(w.e.f. 1-12-1961).

**38.** [Exemption of High Court practitioners from certain parts of Act.] _Rep. by s._ 50 (5), ibid.

(w.e.f. 15-6-2011).

**39.** [Suspension or dismissal of person holding mukhtar and revenue-agent’s certificate.] Rep. by the

_Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961), s. 50(4) (w.e.f. 1-9-1963)._

**40. [Pleaders, etc., not to be suspended or dismissed without being heard.] Rep. by s.** 50(4), ibid.

(w.e.f. 1-9-1963).

**41. [Power for certain High Courts to enrol advocates.] Rep. by s. 50 (5), ibid. (w.e.f. 15-6-2011).**

**42. [Repeal of Chapter VI of Bom. Reg. II of 1827 and Acts 1 of 1846 and 20 of 1853.]** _Rep. by the_

_Repealing Act, 1938 (1 of 1938),_ _s. 2 and Sch._

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_FIRST SCHEDULE.—[Enactments repealed.]_ _Rep. by the Repealing Act,_ 1938 (1 _of_ 1938),

_s._ 2 and Schedule.

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SECOND SCHEDULE

(See Section 25)

VALUE OF STAMPS FOR CERTIFICATES

I

For a certificate authorizing the holder to practise as a pleader—

(a) in the High Court and any subordinate Court—rupees fifty:

(b) in any Court of Small Causes in a Presidency-town—rupees twenty-five:

(c) in all other subordinate Courts—rupees twenty-five:

(d) in the Courts of Subordinate Judges, Munsifs, Assistant Commissioners, Extra Assistant

Commissioners and Tahsildars, in Courts of Small Causes outside the Presidency-towns and in all
Criminal Courts subordinate to the High Court—rupees fifteen:

(e) in the Courts of Munsifs and any Civil or Criminal Court of first instance not hereinbefore

specifically mentioned—rupees five.

II

For a certificate authorizing the holder to practise as a mukhtar—

(f) in the High Court and any subordinate Court—rupees twenty-five:

(g) in any Court of Small Causes in a Presidency-town—rupees fifteen:

(h) in all other subordinate Courts—rupees fifteen:

(i) in the Courts of Subordinate Judges, Munsifs, Assistant Commissioners, Extra

Assistant Commissioners and Tahsildars, in Courts of Small Causes outside the
Presidency-towns and in all Criminal Courts subordinate to the High Court--rupees ten:

(j) in the Courts of Munsifs and any Civil or Criminal Court of first instance not hereinbefore

specifically mentioned—rupees five.

III

For a certificate authorising the holder to practise as a revenue-agent—

(k) in the office of the Chief Controlling Revenue-authority and in any revenue-office

subordinate to such authority— rupees fifteen:

(l) in the office of a Commissioner and in any revenue-office subordinate to a Commissioner—

rupees ten:

(m) in the office of a Collector and in any revenue-office subordinate to a Collector—

rupees five.

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