New Delhi. The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed the Supreme Court that an advocate practising law cannot work as a full-time journalist. The BCI also told the court that lawyers are banned from full-time journalism.The BCI further said, 'Advocates practising law cannot do full-time journalism. This decision arises from the terms of Rule 49 under the BCI's Conduct Rules, which strictly regulates the professional activities of lawyers.Actually, a lawyer had filed a petition in the court. That lawyer also worked as a freelance journalist. The lawyer had filed a petition to dismiss the defamation case against him. On his petition, a bench of Justice Abhay S Oak and Justice Augustine George Masih had sought a reply from the BCI regarding professional limits for lawyers.

The BCI replied that the petitioner is prohibited from playing a dual role as a lawyer and an accredited journalist. At the same time, the lawyer fighting the case of the petitioner assured that his client will stop all journalistic activities to focus on his legal practice.

The hearing will be held next year

Now the next hearing in the case will be held in 2025. The bench clarified that now the BCI does not need to be present as the dispute is over.