The Law Ministry has clarified in the Rajya Sabha that the Bar Council of India does not recognise evening, online, part-time or distance LL.B. courses started after 2000–2001. Only full-time, regular law degrees are valid for enrolment as advocates in India.
The Central Government has clearly explained its stand on the validity of law degrees obtained through non-regular modes such as evening, night-school, part-time, or distance learning. The Ministry of Law and Justice has stated that such LL.B. degrees are not recognised by the Bar Council of India if they were started after the academic year 2000–2001.
This clarification was given in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The reply was provided by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, who explained how legal education rules have changed over time in India.
The Minister informed the House that under the earlier Rules of Legal Education, 1989, the Bar Council of India had allowed and recognised evening LL.B. courses in certain universities and law colleges. These courses were mainly offered in places like Delhi and some other states.
However, this recognition was given only if the institutions followed the standards that were applicable at that time.
A major change took place when the Rules of Legal Education, 1999, also known as the Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of Degrees in Law, were introduced. From the academic year 2000–2001 onwards, the Bar Council of India stopped recognising evening law courses across the country. This decision applied uniformly to all states and universities.
The Minister further explained that this position has continued under the present Rules of Legal Education, 2008. Under these rules, an LL.B. degree must be a regular, full-time professional course.
The rules clearly mention that law classes must be conducted during fixed hours, between 8.00 A.M. and 7.00 P.M., and students must complete minimum classroom hours and attendance requirements. Because of these strict conditions, non-regular modes of legal education are not permitted.
As a result, since the academic year 2000–2001, no state in India has been allowed to offer or recognise LL.B. courses through evening or night-school classes, part-time programmes, weekend or holiday courses, online modes, or distance learning.
The Bar Council of India has repeatedly confirmed this position through its rules and official circulars over the years.
The Minister also addressed concerns about students who completed their law degrees before this rule change. He clarified that candidates who obtained their LL.B. degree through evening classes up to the academic year 1999–2000 are still eligible to enrol as advocates.
However, any law degree obtained through such non-regular modes after this cut-off year is not recognised for enrolment in the legal profession.
This statement puts to rest long-standing confusion regarding the validity of non-regular law degrees and clearly confirms that only full-time, regular LL.B. courses approved by the Bar Council of India are valid for becoming an advocate in India.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Ministry Of Law And Justice
