Kerala High Court Closes Plea On GLC Kozhikode's BCI Affiliation After Provisional Recognition, Asks Principal To Obtain Regular Affiliation

The Kerala High Court on Monday (June 22) closed the plea filed relating to the issue of lack of Bar Council of India (BCI) affiliation for the Government Law College, Kozhikode after noting that provisional affiliation was granted to the college.

 Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas closed the plea after noting that the BCI has issued a letter granting 6-months' affiliation to the college 

"Since the provisional affiliation is already issued and the compliance of conditions for continuance of affiliation is a matter which has to be complied with the 3rd respondent [Principal of the college], I am of the view that the grievance project in the writ petition stands redressed. Accordingly the writ petition is closed."

It also recorded the submission of the Standing Counsel of the BCI that default payments have been cleared by the college and the affiliation would continue if the college maintains the standards of education as required by the provisions of law.

The Court was considering a plea preferred by an Idukki-based advocate, who has prayed for a retrospective recognition from the BCI to the 5-year-integrated course offered by the college. The petition was filed after the advocate discovered that his law degree was deemed “unqualified” by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) in Canada when he sought to pursue higher education and legal opportunities in Canada.

Advocate Azad Sunil appearing for the petitioner today also sought for a direction to the Principal to complete the process of obtaining regular affiliation in a timely manner and to continue the same. Hearing the submission, the Court added to its order:

"Needless to mention, the 3rd respondent [Principal] shall take steps to continue the affiliation and obtain regular affiliation without undue delay."

The Court had earlier issued orders directing the government and the principal of the college to resolve the issue. During the course of the proceedings in the case, the Principal had filed a statement wherein it was mentioned that in addition to the government law colleges in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram, several other legal education institutions do not possess BCI affiliation.

The Court had also orally remarked that students of GLC Kozhikode are greatly prejudiced by the lack of affiliation and had directed for resolving the issue.

The petition was moved by Advocates S. Rajeev, V. Vinay, M.S. Aneer, Anilkumar C.R., Sarath K.P., Dipa V., K.S. Kiran Krishnan, Akash Cherian Thomas, and Azad Sunil.

Case No: WP(C) 39952/ 2025

Case Title: Muhammed Anwar Saidu v. Bar Council of India and Others

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 338