BCI clarifies Non-Recognition of Evening, Part-Time, Online LLB Degrees acquired since 2000-01 Academic Year
Acquiring an LLB Degree continues to require minimum attendance, and a fixed academic teaching window between 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has clarified that LLB degrees obtained through evening, night-school, part-time, weekend, online or distance modes are not recognised for enrolment as advocates if acquired from the academic year 2000-01 onwards.
The clarification was issued by the Council via a Press Information Bureau release from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The clarification comes at a time of recurring questions over the validity of non-regular law degrees, acquired through non-conventional methods.
As per the BCI, while evening LLB courses were earlier permitted under the Rules of Legal Education, 1989, this position changed with the introduction of the Rules of Legal Education, 1999, also referred to as the Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of Degrees in Law (Rules).
With effect from the academic year 2000-01 onwards, the Bar Council of India discontinued recognition of evening law degree programmes across all States. This position has since been consistently maintained under subsequent regulatory frameworks, including within the Rules of Legal Education, 2008.
Under the current rules, the LLB is recognised only as a regular, full-time professional course. The 2008 Rules mandate prescribed daily classroom hours, minimum attendance requirements and a fixed academic teaching window between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
It is in light of these requirements that the BCI has stated that no recognition exists or has existed since 2000-01 for evening, night-school, part-time, weekend, holiday, online or distance LLB courses.
However, the clarification makes an exception for candidates who completed their law degrees through evening classes up to the academic year 1999-2000. Such degree holders remain eligible for enrolment as advocates. But, no such entitlement exists for candidates who pursued similar modes of legal education thereafter.
The Law Ministry has stated that this position has been reiterated by the BCI through statutory rules and circulars over the years.
This clarificatory release was issued by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law and Justice and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates
