The Bar Council of India has issued a warning against unapproved online and hybrid LL.M. programmes, labeling them as misleading and harmful to legal education standards. Institutions must seek BCI approval for such courses, as unauthorized programmes threaten educational quality and integrity. Legal actions will be pursued against violators to protect students.
The Bombay High Court upheld the Bar Council of India’s Rules of Legal Education, 2008, affirming its authority to inspect law colleges and maintain educational standards. The court dismissed the petition from SNDT Women’s University Law School, reinforcing that the Advocates Act, 1961, supersedes other educational legislation regarding legal education oversight.
The Madras High Court praised the Bar Council of India (BCI) for ensuring law colleges meet educational standards and commended its high-power committee for conducting surprise inspections. During a recent hearing, the court learned that the committee had inspected 22 institutions and submitted reports for 19.
The Bar Council of India has banned seven law colleges from admitting students for the 2024-2025 academic year due to failure to meet educational standards. The affected colleges must address the deficiencies and seek BCI review for the prohibition to be lifted. Current students should stay updated on their academic status.