Forty-one prospective barristers sworn in

Forty-one prospective barristers were admitted as new members of the Bar Council on Friday 25 September 2026, at a swearing-in ceremony held at the New Supreme Court Building in Port Louis. The ceremony was attended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mauritius, Mrs Rehana Bibi Mungly-Gulbul, the Secretary of the Mauritius Bar Council, Mr Yatindra Nath Varma, and several other personalities.

In her address, the Chief Justice congratulated the newly admitted barristers on reaching an important milestone following years of academic and professional study. She also acknowledged the support provided by their families and loved ones, noting that their admission to the Bar marked not only the culmination of their studies but also the beginning of a fulfilling professional career.

Mrs Mungly-Gulbul underlined the crucial role of a strong and independent Bar in securing effective judicial protection against arbitrariness and abuse of power. She described lawyers as guardians of the rule of law and individual rights, and stressed that the practice of law must always be guided by independence, fearlessness and strict adherence to professional ethics.

She reminded the new barristers that, while they have a duty to defend and protect the interests of their clients, their overriding duty is to the Court and to the proper administration of justice. They were urged to exercise fearless and compelling advocacy while ensuring that their conduct remains within the parameters of the law and the highest ethical standards.

The Chief Justice also emphasised the importance of maintaining public confidence in the legal profession. She referred to the obligations contained in the Code of Ethics, including the need to avoid dishonest or discreditable conduct, protect confidential information and refrain from conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute.

Addressing the changing nature of legal practice, Mrs Mungly-Gulbul highlighted the importance of continuous learning and the development of professional skills. She noted that artificial intelligence was increasingly being used in the practice of law and could be useful, but stressed that it should not replace critical thinking, independent analysis and individual professional judgement.

She further observed that the legal profession in Mauritius had become increasingly competitive, with a growing number of new barristers joining the Bar in recent years. Nevertheless, she encouraged the new entrants to rely on hard work, discipline, commitment, perseverance and professional competence to meet the demands of the profession.

For his part, the Secretary of the Mauritius Bar Council, Mr Varma, congratulated the newly sworn-in barristers, highlighting that their achievement is shared by their families, teachers, pupil masters and friends.

He reminded them that admission to the Bar also marks the beginning of a significant responsibility, as clients would place their trust in them during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He encouraged them to prepare thoroughly, provide honest advice, uphold their duty to the Court and remain mindful of the individual behind every legal brief.

Mr Varma also stressed that cases should be argued on the basis of evidence before the Court rather than through media statements or social media posts. He called on the new barristers to carry their professional title with dignity, humility, independence and courage.

28 September 2026

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Topics: Justice