BCI Cracks Down on Fake Law Degrees: Calls for Immediate Action by Universities and State Bar Councils
Safiya Malik
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has urged universities and state bar councils to take firm action against the proliferation of fake law degrees.
In a recent notification, the BCI pointed to a case at Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, where the Bar Council of Delhi identified 13 fraudulent law degrees.This discovery prompted a broader verification initiative across state bar councils. According to the notification, internal investigations have revealed that the issue is widespread, with indications of potentially hundreds more fraudulent enrollments in Delhi alone. "The existence of such practices poses a significant threat to the legal profession and necessitates immediate corrective measures," the notification stated.
In April 2023, the Supreme Court established a high-level committee to expedite the verification of state bar council records. Following this, Rule 32 of the BCI Rules was amended in June 2023, requiring advocates participating in bar elections to complete the verification process within 18 months. Non-compliance will lead to the dissolution of state bar councils and the formation of Special Committees under Rule 8A of the Advocates Act, 1961.
The BCI has criticized universities, including Chaudhary Charan Singh University, for delaying verification reports and charging fees for the process, which violates Supreme Court directives. These directives mandate transparency and timely verifications by educational institutions. The Council also noted that some recognized and deemed universities are issuing law degrees in violation of established norms. "In certain cases, these institutions have reduced legal education to a commercial venture under the pretext of academia. Such unethical practices must be eradicated immediately to protect the integrity of legal education and uphold professional standards," the BCI stated.
The BCI expressed concern over the failure of several state bar councils to enforce robust verification mechanisms. Evidence suggests that thousands of advocates across India may have enrolled with fake law degrees, forged documents, or falsified qualifications. The BCI has directed state bar councils to verify all enrolled advocates and submit detailed reports with supporting evidence. The BCI reaffirmed its authority to remove fraudulent entries and warned of legal consequences for non-compliance. A consolidated report on the verification drive will be submitted by the BCI to the Supreme Court.
The BCI concluded by urging state bar councils to fully cooperate in restoring public trust in the legal profession.
