Kerala High Court Directs Government, Calicut Law College Principal To Take Initiative To Resolve Affiliation Issue

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (December 16) directed the government and the principal of the Government Law College, Calicut to resolve the issue of lack of Bar Council of India (BCI) affiliation to the college.

Justice V.G. Arun 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 Government Law College, Kozhikode.

"Considering the future of the students who have passed out of the Government Law College, Kozhikode, this Court is of the definite opinion that the present imbroglio has to be resolved. For that, the Government and the Principal of the Law College should take the initiative," observed the Court in its interim order.

The plea was preferred after the petitioner came to know that his law degree from GLC Kozhikode was deemed “unqualified” by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) in Canada when he decided to pursue higher education and legal opportunities there.

Earlier, the principal of the college had filed a statement saying that in January this year, the BCI advised the college to pay Rs. 18.5 lakhs as default fee and Rs. 5 lakhs as guarantee fee, which were paid by it. It was further stated that when the present Principal took charge, he took steps to obtain affiliation and that the BCI told that the same had to done online through a link.

According to the principal, though the link had technical problems, in May, it got activated again and the college was successful in completing the process for the 3-year-course. With respect to the 5 year-course, there are still some technical issues, which are to be addressed by the BCI, it was stated.

When the case came up for consideration, the government pleader told the Court that some fees has been remitted to the Bar Council over the years. However, the BCI's standing counsel said that merely paying the fees would not be enough and the College should submit a compliance report.

The Court then directed the government pleader to take instructions as to when the report can be filed. To the BCI's counsel, the Court asked to get specific instructions as to whether the portal enabling payment of balance fee can be opened on the compliance report being filed.

The case is posted next on December 18.

Case No: WP(C) 39952/ 2025

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

Click to Read/Download Interim Order