Today, On 9th December, AAP Legal Cell Chief Sanjeev Nasiar has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) decision to remove him from his position as Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD). Nasiar argues that the BCI’s move is unjust and seeks a judicial review of the decision. The case has sparked further legal and political debate. The Delhi HC will now decide on the matter in the coming days.
New Delhi: Chief of AAP Legal Cell, Advocate Sanjeev Nasia, challenged his removal as Vice Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi by BCI in a fresh petition before the Delhi High Court on suspicion of the genuineness of his LL.B. (Hons.) degree.
On its part, BCI restrained all these by a direction to the Secretary, Bar Council of Delhi to forward the matter to CBI immediately for validating his academic credentials and as well for possible faking of records. Nasia prayed for an urgent listing of his case before the Acting Chief Justice through Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta which was agreed to be listed before the appropriate bench today.
In a meeting held on December 7, 2024, the BCI resolved to take immediate and decisive action regarding the allegations concerning the LL.B. (Hons.) degree issued to Nasia by Devi Ahilyabai Vishvavidyalaya, Indore. This decision follows an inquiry by a sub-committee formed in response to a resolution dated September 3, 2024, and directives from the Delhi High Court.
The BCI issued a press statement indicating that the inquiry uncovered significant discrepancies in Nasia’s academic records. An inspection of P.M.B. Gujarati Arts and Law College, Indore, revealed that the college was not authorized to offer an LL.B. (Hons.) course during the relevant period.
The records submitted for the inquiry appeared tampered with, exhibiting uniform handwriting and ink consistency over a long duration. Furthermore, it was determined that the LL.B. (Hons.) program was only introduced under Bar Council of India regulations in 2008, making the purported issuance of Nasia’s degree in 1988 inconsistent with these requirements. The non-cooperation of university officials during the inquiry raised further doubts about the degree’s authenticity.
The sub-committee concluded that the legitimacy of Sanjeev Nasia’s LL.B. (Hons.) degree is highly questionable. Under its statutory powers defined by the Advocates Act, 1961, and the Bar Council of India Rules, the General Council of the BCI adopted the sub-committee’s report from October 25, 2024, and directed the Secretary to request an immediate CBI investigation into the authenticity of Nasia’s degree and potential record fabrication.
Pending the investigation’s outcome, Nasia has been removed from his role as Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi, as stated by the BCI.
In December 2024, the Bar Council of India (BCI) suspended him from the position of Vice-Chairman due to doubts over the authenticity of his LL.B. degree. The BCI described the degree as “highly questionable” and directed the matter to the CBI for further investigation. In an instance of August 2024, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Nasiar’s law degree on the ground that Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya had also confirmed the same in its verification report.
The difference in the results of the action initiated by BCI through suspension and a court ruling delivered earlier has stirred up a discussion on professional ethics and political responsibility.
Aam Aadmi Party criticized the BCI decision, questioning Nasiar’s qualifications and condemning the findings of the council.
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