BCI powers should be restricted to eligibility for practising: panel

• Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law And Justice presented a report titled “Strengthening Legal Education in View of Emerging Challenges Before The Legal Profession” in the Rajya Sabha.

Restricting BCI's Role

• The report suggests restricting the Bar Council of India's (BCI) role to granting basic eligibility for practising at the Bar.
• It criticizes the BCI for reckless proliferation of substandard law colleges due to its unchecked power to inspect and grant recognition.

Independent Authority for Postgraduate Programs

• The panel recommends establishing an independent authority for postgraduate legal programs, emphasizing the need for relevance beyond courtrooms.
• It argues that the BCI lacks the power and expertise for necessary changes in legal education.

Creation of National Council for Legal Education and Research

• It also proposed the formation of a “National Council for Legal Education and Research” under the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).
  • This suggests a separation from the BCI's jurisdiction.
• However, the HECI Bill, which excludes medical and law colleges, is yet to be introduced in Parliament.

Uniform Curriculum

• The panel advocates for a uniform curriculum across law colleges to replace the current practice of different syllabi by affiliating universities.
• It highlights the need for consistency among law students and recommends the BCI to define this uniform curriculum for undergraduate courses.

Quota Implementation

• The panel observed that premier law colleges have not implemented quota for SCs, STs and OBCs in undergraduate and postgraduate courses especially in all-India seats.
• Therefore, the report suggests that the BCI should consider withdrawing recognition if NLUs and other colleges fail to implement it.

Prelims Takeaway

• Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)