Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Inclusion Of Advocates As 'Professionals' In MSME Act

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed seeking inclusion of Advocates in the definition of the word "professional" under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act 2006. A three-judge Bench of CJI Bobde, Justice Bopanna and Justice Ramasubramanian issued the direction while hearing petitioner's challenge to the Delhi High Court order refusing to entertain petitioner PIL seeking inclusion of Advocates in definition of professionals under the MSME Development Act 2006. The petitioner in person before the Delhi High Court, had urged the Court to amend the arbitrary, biased and restrictive criteria of defining the "Professional" in order to include the Profession of Advocates for accessing the welfare schemes of the Government of India under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act 2006. The petitioner had also sought High Court's directions to the Department of Financial Services to develop banking products and schemes in consultation with Bar Council of India for the welfare of the Advocates, and directions to Reserve Bank of India to issue guidelines or instructions or notification to the banks to collateral free loans, credit facilities and schemes under aegis of section 20 of the MSMED Act 2006 in consultation with the Bar Council of India.