No New Law Colleges for 3 Years: Bar Council of India Announces Moratorium to Deter Declining Standard of Legal Education [Read Press Release]

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has announced a sweeping three-year moratorium on the establishment of new Centres of Legal Education across the country. Framed under the Rules of Legal Education, Moratorium (Three-Year Moratorium) with respect to Centers of Legal Education, 2025, the regulation prohibits granting approval to any new law colleges and bars existing institutions from introducing additional sections, courses or batches without prior written consent from the BCI.

Any proposals presented during the period of moratorium shall be subject to strict scrutiny and compliance reviews, while pending applications that have not received final approval as on the commencement date will not be affected and shall be processed in accordance with law.

Why the Moratorium?

BCI has stated that the intent behind implementing such a moratorium is aimed at halting the unchecked mushrooming of substandard institutions, preventing commercialisation, tackling academic malpractices and addressing the chronic shortage of qualified faculty.

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With nearly 2,000 law colleges already in operation, the Bar Council stressed that the priority must now shift to consolidation, quality enhancement and systemic strengthening rather than unchecked expansion. The regulation draws its authority from various provisions under the Advocates Act, 1961 and follows earlier attempts by the BCI to control the proliferation of low-quality law colleges, including a 2019 temporary moratorium and subsequent court proceedings.

Narrowly tailored exceptions have been provided for proposals catering exclusively to socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Economically Weaker Sections; institutions in remote, tribal or aspirational districts; courses for persons with disabilities; and statutory State or Central Universities.

Despite the exceptions, applicants must meet stringent conditions including valid No Objection Certificates, prior affiliations, proven infrastructure and compliance with the Rules of Legal Education along with a three-stage approval process involving state or ministry clearance, university compliance verification and a final BCI inspection before being granted recognition.

The BCI has warned of intensified inspections, compliance audits,and the possibility of closure or derecognition for those failing to maintain prescribed standards.

Graduates of SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law at Crossroads

Graduates of SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law (PGCL) in Mumbai are facing career setbacks due to the college’s lack of updated approval from the Bar Council of India (BCI), with records showing affiliation only until 2016–17.

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This has cast doubt on the validity of degrees issued since then, leaving many unable to enrol with State Bar Councils to be eligible to practise law and pursue avenues in judicial service.

While PGCL maintains that it has followed procedures for renewal up to the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years and is awaiting BCI communication, its website continues to display “Approved by BCI” without updated proof. At least 10 alumni have petitioned the Bombay High Court Chief Justice’s office over the issue, stressing that the uncertainty hampers registration outside Maharashtra.

BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra has warned students to verify a law college’s approval status before admission, noting that by the time action is taken against unapproved institutions, the damage to students’ careers is often irreversible.

For the official list of BCI-approved Centres of Legal Education, visit: https://www.barcouncilofindia.org/info/approved-l-n41mjp .

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