The Supreme Court on Monday decided to consider whether an individual can be refused enrolment as an advocate due to obtaining their graduation degree through a correspondence course.

The issue stemmed from an appeal challenging a Telangana High Court order, which dismissed the plea of STS Gladies (the appellant) seeking a directive for the Bar Council of Telangana to enrol her as an advocate.

The High Court held that Gladies, having obtained her graduation degree through a correspondence course, was ineligible for enrolment as a lawyer.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice PB Varale on Monday issued a notice on the plea filed by Gladies challenging the Telangana High Court's decision. The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Bar Council of Telangana and the Bar Council of India (BCI) within four weeks.

"Issue notice, returnable within four weeks. Dasti service, in addition, is permitted," the Court ordered.

The appellant had completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2012 through correspondence from Kakatiya University. Before the High Court, the Bar Council of Telangana contended that the appellant was ineligible for enrolment as an advocate because she obtained her degree through correspondence.

Considering this argument and its previous rulings in M. Naveen Kumar v. State of Telangana and Katroth Pradeep Rathod v. Bar Council of India, the High Court concurred with the Bar Council of Telangana's stance and dismissed the plea. Subsequently, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's decision.