India today ruled out any immediate decision to allow foreign lawyers to work in the country in view of the reservations of the domestic legal fraternity.
The Indian position was conveyed by law minister M Veerappa Moily to British Parliamentary undersecretary of state for justice, Lord William Bach, during their meeting here.
Pressing for a decision to allow foreign lawyers to operate here, Bach said they may not be given the right to appear in Indian courts, but should be given permission to at least advise their Indian counterparts, especially in commercial cases, sources said.
Moily told Bach that no decision could be taken on the issue as Indian lawyers should feel confident on the issue first. He said Indian law firms were apprehensive about the entry of foreign law firms in the country, and awareness on the issue was required before the government could think further, sources added.
Britain and several other countries have been seeking permission for foreign lawyers to operate in India, but the Indian legal fraternity has been opposing it, apprehending that
it would hurt their interests.
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