The Madras High Court expressed astonishment after a petitioner, claiming to be a practicing lawyer, filed a plea seeking protection to operate a brothel in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district. The petitioner also sought to quash an FIR filed against him.

Justice B Pugalendhi, presiding over the bench, strongly condemned the petitioner's actions and rationale, which were based on the rights of consensual adult sex. The court urged the Bar Council to ensure that only graduates from reputable law colleges are enrolled as advocates, according to a report by LiveLaw.

The court dismissed the petition, imposing a cost of Rs 10,000 on the lawyer. "It is high time the Bar Council realizes that the reputation of advocates in society is diminishing. The Bar Council should ensure enrollment from reputed institutions and restrict enrollment from unreputable institutions from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and other states," the bench was quoted as saying by LiveLaw.

The case involved two petitions filed by Advocate Raja Murrugan, seeking the quashing of an FIR lodged against him and a mandamus to prevent police interference in his business activities. Murrugan revealed to the court that he operates a trust providing services such as consensual sex between adults, counseling, and therapeutic oil baths for individuals over 18.

In response, the High Court observed that Murrugan had misinterpreted the Supreme Court's judgment in the Budhadev case, which aimed to prevent trafficking and rehabilitate sex workers. The court noted that Murrugan had exploited a minor girl, taking advantage of her poverty.

Irritated by the petition, the court demanded that Murrugan present his enrollment certificate and law degree to verify his legal education and bar association membership. The Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) informed the court that Murrugan is a B-Tech graduate with a Bar Council Identity and an enrollment number. However, the APP also stated that they could not verify whether Murrugan had actually studied law.