No new law colleges will be opened for the next 3 years, Bar Council of India has imposed a ban

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Bar Council of India (BCI) has banned the establishment of new law colleges across the country for three years. The Bar Council has taken this step to stop the decline in quality in various areas of legal education.

The Bar Council believes that the continuing decline in the quality of legal education is evidenced by the uncontrolled growth of substandard institutions, routine issuance of No Objection Certificates by State Governments and affiliation by universities without proper inspection.

New law colleges will not open for the next 3 years

The three-year ban on setting up new law colleges has also been imposed to prevent commercialisation of legal education, widespread academic malpractice and the persistent shortage of qualified faculty. No new law education centre will be established or approved across the country during the three-year ban period. Also, no existing law education centre can start any section, course or batch without the prior written approval of the BCI.

BCI says that even if such proposals are considered, they will be thoroughly scrutinized and compliance review will continue. However, pending applications that have not received final approval by the start date will not be affected and action will be taken on them as per the law.

Decision to improve the quality of law college

BCI believes that there are sufficient number of legal education centres in the country and now the focus should be on increasing their quality. Therefore, universities, state governments, central government bodies and other institutions are advised not to submit or forward proposals for setting up new legal education centres during this moratorium period.

BSI will inspect the existing colleges

BCI has issued a release saying that it expects full cooperation from all stakeholders in maintaining the objectives of BCI Regulations. During the moratorium period, BCI will intensify inspection of existing colleges and will have the right to close or cancel the recognition of colleges that fail to maintain standards. BCI has framed and approved regulations in this regard.

However, even during the moratorium period, certain relaxations have been given to the institutions providing services exclusively to the socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and economically weaker sections.

Proposals for colleges in remote, tribal or aspiring districts, courses designed exclusively for persons with disabilities and proposals for state or central universities created by law or specifically recommended by competent ministries will also be exempted from the moratorium. The BCI has said that all such proposals will have to fulfil strict conditions.

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