The Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa (BCMG) has issued notice to a 'legal and advisory' platform called 'Society First' for breaching the provisions of the Advocates Act and providing legal advice to citizens in matters of housing societies, deemed conveyance etc.

The notice issued by BCMG Secretary Sharad Bagul seeks a response from the platform within a period of seven days on whether it is notified or registered either with the Bar Council of India or the BCMG itself, and also to furnish its enrolment number, the name and address of the proprietor of the platform etc.

The BCMG Secretary in his notice has invited the platform's attention to various provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961, particularly Section 29 which provides that Advocate is the only class of persons who are entitled to practice the profession of law.

The term 'practice the profession of law' has been interpreted by the Supreme Court on multiple occasions in different Judgments. It includes giving some advice, settling the drafts and provide consultancy services in the field of law.

"Your attention is invited to section 33 of the Advocates Act which says that Advocate alone is entitled to practice in any Court or before any authority. You are aware that Competent Authority has been established under the provisions of MOFA Act, 1963 and it exercises quasi-judicial powers. It has been brought to my notice that you are providing the legal services in the field of Housing Society Laws, Deemed Conveyance and allied different issues. I have also visited your website and found that various claims have been made by you with reference to the legal practices," the notice reads.

Further Bagul highlighted the section 45 of the Advocates Act which provides that there shall be imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months to a person who practices in any Court or before any Authority is not entitled to practice under the provisions of the Act.

"Needless to caution you that if there is no response, I will be constrained to invoke provisions of section 45 of the Advocates Act (which provides that there shall be imprisonment for a period which may extend to six months) of which please take note," the notice warns.