M.M. SUNDRESH, J.

In view of the common issues involved in all the writ petitions they have been taken up together for hearing and a common order is passed.

1(A). The above writ petitions are hereby divided into the following three categories:

.(i) Writ petitions challenging the orders of the State Bar Council cancelling and refusing enrollment.

.(ii) Writ petitions challenging the decision of the Bar Council of India holding that the persons with Post Graduate qualification from Open Universities are not entitled to be enrolled in the State Roll.

(iii) Writ petitions seeking a direction to the State Bar Council to entertain the applications for enrollment in the State Roll.

2. In all these writ petitions, the questions arise for consideration are as to whether the persons who studied law without basic degree, but obtained Post Graduate degree in Open Universities are entitled to be enrolled as Advocates and the applicability of Rule 2(8), Rule 4 and Rule 5 of the Legal Education Rules, 2008.

3. Lawis the cement of the society and an essential medium of change. It is said "Law is the king of kings, far more rigid and powerful than the kings. Nothing can be mightier than law by whose aid as by that of the highest monarch, even a weak may prevail over the strong." Rule of Law is the basic foundation of a democratic society.

3(a). A lawyer is a guardian of rule of law. The father of the nation described a lawyer as thus: "A lawyer is the salt of the nation."

.4. In J.S.Jadhav v. Mustafa Haji Mohammed Yusuf (AIR 1993 SC 1535), the Honourable Apex Court has defined legal profession as follows:

."Advocacy is not a craft but a calling; a profession wherein devotion to duty constitutes the hallmark. Sincerity of performance and the earnestness of endeavour are the two wings that will bar aloft the advocate to the tower of success. Given these virtues other qualifications will follow of their own account. This is the reason why legal profession is regarded to be a noble one. But it cannot be allowed to become a sorriest of trades."

.5. Similarly, in Sanjiv Bitta v. Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (1995 (3) SCC 619), the Honourable Apex Court observed as follows:

."It is in the hands of the members of the legal profession to improve the quality of the service they render both to the litigant public and to the courts, and to brighten their image in the society. The legal profession is a solemn and serious occupation. It is noble calling and all those who belong to it are its honourable members. The legal profession is different from other professions in that what the lawyers do, affects not only an individual but also the administration of justice, which is the foundation of the civilised society. It must not be forgotten that the legal profession has always been held in high esteem and its members have played an enviable role in public life."

6. A good legal education is a sine quo non for creating a good lawyer. Such a legal education is the basis and foundation for creating a good and competent Judge as well.

7. In P.D.Gupta v. Ram Murti and another {(1997) 7 Supreme Court cases 147}, the Honourable Apex Court observed that the administration of justice is the concern of Bench and Bar as well and the Bar is the principal ground for recruiting Judges.

.8. Thepassage from Harry R.Blythe, 21 Green Bag.224, may be usefully quoted in this context:

."Great God! the hour has come when we must clear the legal fields from poison and from fear; we must remould our standards--build them higher, and clear the air as though by cleansing fire, weed out the damning traitors to the law, restore her to her ancient place of awe."

.9. Sri.Dr.C.Radhakrishnan, the first vice-president of Republic India, has lamented thus:

."Our Colleges of law do not hold a place of high esteem either at home or abroad, nor has law become an arena of profound scholarship and enlightened research."

.10. It is said, Legal