Dr Rakesh Mohanlal has made history by being the first to gain approval from the National Bar Council of SA to practise as an advocate as well as a medical doctor, with the argument that HE was trying to pursue two incompatible professions eventually overruled, reports The Witness.
It was not that I was the first to ever practise both professions, I am just the first to disclose them to the bar council in my application,” said Mohanlal, of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Mohanlal said he also intended practising these professions parallel to one another.
The report says the argument that Mohanlal was trying to pursue two incompatible professions was eventually overruled. He described the outcome as “a legal milestone”.
The report says after completing his advocacy qualification in just three years instead of the recommended six, advocate and medical doctor Mohanlal had to further battle in court for his right to practise both professions, and five appeals later his dream has become a reality.
“My case had a full bench court case meaning three judges handled it. I had to submit five supplementary applications arguing that I met all the criteria to become an advocate and a medical doctor and there was no rule in the South African law to bar me from practising both professions,” said Mohanlal.
[link url="http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/hes-a-doctor-and-an-advocate-20170301"]The Witness report[/link]