Bar Council of India imposes 3-year moratorium on opening of new law colleges

Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex bar body has imposed 3 year moratorium on opening of new institutions except for national law universities (NLUs), if proposed by a state. This decision has been taken to curb mushrooming of law colleges in the country and laying stress on improvement of standard of existing institutions. BCI can only approves or gives recognition to LLB degree and LLM and Ph.D degrees are not under its control.

BCI observations

BCI noted that there is no dearth of advocates and existing institutions are sufficient to produce required number of law graduates annually. It also held that the ones without any proper infrastructure or faculty will be closed down in the next three years. It said that there is urgent need to improve standard of teaching and it will train law teachers in the country. BCI has also requested state governments and universities to stop unfair means as well as to fill up vacancies of law teachers in all colleges/universities within 4 months period.

About Bar Council of India (BCI)

It is statutory body established by Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961. It is mandated to regulate and represent Indian bar.

Functions:

It performs regulatory function by prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette and by exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar.

It sets standards for legal education in the country and grants recognition to Universities whose degree in law will serve as qualification for enrolment as advocate.

It also performs representative functions by protecting rights, interests and privileges of advocates as well as provides financial assistance for organising welfare schemes for advocates.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2019