Provide Current Status Of Affiliation Of Law Universities/Colleges On Website: Karnataka High Court To BCI

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bar Council of India, to provide details regarding the current status of affiliation of universities, college names etc on its website.

A single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj said “The Bar Council of India is directed to add the following columns, the date on which an application for extension of affiliation is made, the date on which the payment was made including the details thereof, the initial affiliation letter issued by the Bar Counsel to the particular college with the PDF copy uploaded. The approved intake of the college and such other and further details as the Bar Council may deem fit taking into account the changed circumstances as on today.”

The directions were given while hearing a petition from B.M.S. College of Law, which had approached the court stating that it was established in the year 1963 offering both three year and five year degree courses in law. It has been making payments of the necessary fee for the renewal of affiliation to respondent No.1/Bar Council of India, the said affiliation has been renewed from time to time.

It was stated that though the petitioner made payment for an extension of affiliation for the year 2023-2024, on 15.12.2023 by virtue of which the affiliation would have to be extended automatically for the academic year 2027-2028.

In the list of Law Colleges/Universities (CLE's) having approval of affiliation of the Bar Council of India as on 15.05.2023 published on the website of the Bar Council, the affiliation, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, is shown to be in existence and operation until 2017-18, when in fact the affiliation ought to have been shown to be extended and could be available till 2026-2027. A representation was submitted to the BCI on 13.02.2024 for correction of the details, which has not been acted upon, it was stated.

Following this the bench said “The Bar Council of India being the authority which grants affiliation as regards all colleges of law degree, the petitioner would be put to disadvantage if the details of the current affiliation are not reflected on the website of the Bar Council. Any student taking up admission in the law college may check the said details.”

Accordingly, it directed the Bar Council of India to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 13.02.2024 and make such changes as required in the approved list of CLEs (Law Colleges/Universities) published on the website within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

Appearance: Advocate Badri Vishal for Petitioner.

Advocate Shridhar Prabhu for R1.

Advocate Girish Kumar R for R2.

Citation No: 2024 LiveLaw (Kar) 217

Case Title: B.M.S College Of Law AND Bar Council of India & ANR

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 9698 OF 2024

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