Bar Council of India halts new law colleges for 3 years to curb declining legal education standards and stop the proliferation of fake law degrees across the country.
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NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has announced a three-year moratorium on establishing new Centres of Legal Education across the country. The regulation, titled Rules of Legal Education, Moratorium (Three-Year Moratorium) with respect to Centers of Legal Education, 2025, strictly prohibits granting approval to new law colleges and restricts existing ones from introducing additional sections, courses, or batches without prior written consent from the BCI.
Why the Moratorium?
The BCI has emphasized that the moratorium is necessary to:
- Curb the mushrooming of substandard institutions that dilute the credibility of legal education.
- Prevent the commercialisation of legal education.
- Address faculty shortages and ensure the availability of qualified teachers.
- Tackle academic malpractices observed in several institutions.
With nearly 2,000 law colleges already operational, the focus, according to BCI, must now shift towards consolidation, quality enhancement, and systemic strengthening instead of unchecked expansion. The move derives authority from the Advocates Act, 1961, and comes after previous attempts in 2019 to regulate proliferation, which also saw subsequent court proceedings.
While the moratorium is strict, narrowly tailored exceptions exist. Proposals will still be considered if they cater to:
- Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Economically Weaker Sections.
- Institutions in remote, tribal, or aspirational districts.
- Specialised courses for persons with disabilities.
- Statutory State or Central Universities.
However, such applications must undergo a rigorous three-stage approval process:
- Clearance from the state government or the relevant ministry.
- University compliance verification.
- Final BCI inspection before recognition.
Applicants must also secure valid No Objection Certificates, affiliations, and demonstrate proper infrastructure in compliance with BCI’s Rules of Legal Education.
The BCI has warned of stricter inspections, compliance audits, and possible closure or derecognition for law colleges that fail to maintain prescribed standards. This signals a tough stance against institutions that compromise on academic integrity.
The urgency of such regulation is highlighted by the ongoing issue at SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law (PGCL) in Mumbai. Alumni have reported setbacks due to the college’s lapsed BCI approval (last recorded for 2016–17). This has cast doubt on the validity of degrees issued, leaving graduates unable to register with State Bar Councils to practice law or appear for judicial services.
While PGCL claims it has filed renewal applications up to 2025–26, its website continues to display “Approved by BCI” without updated documentation. At least 10 alumni have petitioned the Bombay High Court, stressing that the uncertainty hampers their professional future, especially for registration outside Maharashtra.
ALSO READ: BCI Cracks Down on Fake Online LL.M. Courses, Issues Strict Advisory
BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra has urged aspiring law students to verify a college’s BCI approval status before taking admission. He warned that once action is taken against unapproved institutions, the damage to students’ careers is often irreversible.
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