Govt to 'fast track' decision on foreign law firms' operation in India

Indicating that the government will soon take a decision on the issue of allowing foreign law firms to operate in India, Law Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said the concerns of the Bar will be addressed before taking a final call.

Perhaps in his first public remarks on the issue after he assumed charge of Law Minister in July this year, Khurshid said there were "some concerns" which needed to be addressed before taking a decision.

"Of course there are some issues that have to be addressed. There are some perceptions that are to be addressed more than the issues. There are some concerns that are to be addressed," he said addressing a seminar on UK-India cooperation on emerging legal issues here.

Khurshid assured UK's Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke - present on the occasion - that New Delhi will "put your issues on the fast track" and give decisions quickly and "decisions which have quality."

He said two of his predecessors HR Bhardwaj and M Veerappa Moily have already delved on the issue in great detail.

UK is one of the several countries pressing for entry of their legal firms in India.

The minister said the government and the Bar were equally committed "to enhance the level of our cooperation and contribution in the most meaningful way for advancement of legal services in our two countries."

Besides some ongoing court cases on the issue, the Indian legal fraternity led by the Bar Council of India is opposed to the proposed move, fearing that they would not be able to compete with their foreign counterparts.