14,648 Maharashtra Lawyers To Receive Notary Licenses After Ministry Clearance
14,648 Maharashtra Lawyers To Receive Notary Licenses After Ministry Clearance
In a significant development, the Ministry of Law and Justice has finally cleared the decks to issue notary licenses to 14,648 lawyers in Maharashtra. This move is expected to generate employment opportunities among the legal fraternity in the state.
The journey to obtaining these licenses began in 2018-19, when around 3.5 lakh lawyers across India responded to the ministry’s initiative to issue notary licenses. After a rigorous selection process, the ministry found 14,648 lawyers, including 4,000-odd from Pune district, eligible for the licenses under the Notaries Act of 1952.
The lawyers underwent online interviews in 2021, and the results were declared in March 2024. However, despite verifying their documents, the ministry delayed the process of issuing licenses, citing discrepancies in spellings and birth dates, among other reasons.
Maharashtra and Goa Notary Association President Balasaheb Kharade expressed relief while speaking with the media that the ministry has finally cleared the decks for issuing licenses. “The ministry has started the process of issuing licenses in a phased manner to 2,348 lawyers in Akola, Amravati, Beed, Bhandara, and Pune districts,” he said.
Rajendra Umap, former president of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, attributed the delay in issuing licenses to flaws in the system, including the failure to verify documents and the state council not issuing no-objection certificates to lawyers registered with bar councils in other states.
Pune Bar Association President Santosh Khamkar also highlighted while talking to the media person about the numerous reasons behind the delay, including discrepancies in applications and the ministry’s discovery of ineligible candidates.
With the ministry’s clearance, the selected lawyers can now prepare affidavits, power of attorney, agreements to sell property, and other documents under the Notaries Act. This development is expected to boost the legal profession in Maharashtra and provide new opportunities for lawyers in the state.
