Karnataka High Court Directs Law College To Replace Course Banners Featuring Person In Advocates' Attire, Cites BCI Rules Against Advertisements

The Karnataka High Court has directed Bharathi Education Society Trust to replace course banners featuring the image of a person in advocates' attire, observing that such publicity could violate the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules prohibiting advertisements by individuals. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 260]

A single judge bench of Justice BM Shyam Prasad granted the Trust eight weeks to replace the banners while disposing of a petition challenging a communication dated June 2, 2026, issued by the Panchayat Development Officer of Bharathinagara Grama Panchayat in Mandya district.

“…it is seen that these buntings have the image of a person in what could be the attire prescribed for Advocates. The Bar Council of India Rules would be against any advertisement of an individual...”, the court noted.

The impugned communication stated that, although the Trust was permitted to display banners, they could not feature the image of any individual. It further noted that the Trust had failed to remove the banners despite having been served with a notice.

Appearing for the Trust, counsel submitted that the banners had been erected pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Grama Panchayat in August 2023 and that the institution was willing to remove any objectionable portions if specifically identified. Counsel also sought time to replace the banners so that the Trust's rights and the recognition granted for the law course were not jeopardised.

The Court recorded the Trust's undertaking to replace the banners carrying the image of a person, including that of a student, and to ensure compliance with the applicable rules.

Observing that the promotional material should focus on the law degree course and the institution rather than on any particular individual, the Court held:

"...If the petitioner replaces the image of a person in the attire which is prescribed for an Advocate in the buntings in due deference of the Bar Council of India Rules against advertisement for individuals and ensures that the buntings are about the Law Degree Course/details of the Institution, the second respondent cannot be precipitous in bringing about a termination of the petitioner's right."

Accordingly, the court directed Panchayat Development Officer to defer any precipitative action for 8 weeks, within which time the Trust should replace the buntings impugned with buntings highlighting the details of law course offered by it. Subsequent to this, the Trust is required to file an affidavit to that effect to the Panchayat Development Officer.

“…The second respondent [Panchayat Development Officer], who shall defer action as aforesaid for the next eight [8] weeks, shall consider the issue once again in the light of such replacement without hindering the Bar Council's permission/ recognition in favour of the petitioner's institution or the agreement concluded with the petitioner”, the court concluded in the order.

Case Title: M/S Bharathi Education Society Trustv. State of Karnataka & Panchayat Development Officer, Grama Panchayat, Bharathinagara

Case No:  Writ Petition No. 18384 of 2026 (LB-RES)

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 260

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