Why the BCI has ordered a nationwide inspection of law colleges? | Explained
The Bar Council of India has ordered universities to conduct physical inspections of law colleges to ensure compliance with educational standards. The regulator aims to curb the growth of sub-standard institutions and eliminate irregular weekend or shift-based law programs.
Why it matters
This regulatory crackdown is intended to improve the quality of legal education and the professional standards of future lawyers in India.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed universities across the country to physically inspect all affiliated and constituent law colleges and submit compliance reports within six weeks. It has also asked universities to identify and discontinue impermissible weekend, evening and shift-based law programmes that, according to the regulator, dilute the mandatory character of a regular law course.
The move marks the latest step in the BCI’s long-running effort to improve the quality of legal education in India.
In July, the Supreme Court made strong oral observations concerning the quality of institutions imparting legal education and the continuing operation of deficient law colleges.
The BCI also took note of the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s July 29 judgment in All Saints Christian Education Society v. State of Andhra Pradesh , which reaffirmed that universities have a continuing duty to ensure that affiliated law colleges comply with the rules of legal education.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in