BCI Cautions Public Against Unapproved Online, Distance & Executive LL.M Programmes; Asks Universities To Stop Such Courses
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a public advisory cautioning most people about unauthorised LL.M (Grasp of Regulation) programmes being provided by many universities via on-line, hybrid, or distance studying strategies.
The BCI directed the colleges to droop such LL.M or equal applications being carried out by them with out the regulatory approval.
These embrace online-only, blended, and open and distance studying modes, underneath nomenclatures reminiscent of LLM. (Skilled), M.Sc. in Cyber Regulation, Govt LL.M., and others, with out acquiring the prior approval of the Bar Council of India as required underneath relevant legislation
The Council expressed concern over rising tendencies of diploma or government programmes in legislation being marketed to non-law graduates in on-line or part-time codecs. These practices mislead potential college students, undermine statutory requirements, and jeopardize the credibility of authorized training in India, it mentioned.
“All universities and legislation establishments are, subsequently, suggested to not promote or conduct any LL.M. or equal programme via on-line, hybrid, blended, or part-time modes with out categorical written approval from the BCI. Any such programme at present operational have to be suspended instantly, and a compliance report have to be submitted to the BCI,” the Council mentioned in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellors of all Universities.
The BCI’s letter relies on the report of Justice (Retired) Rajendra Menon, who co-chairs a standing committee underneath the BCI’s Authorized Training Committee.
Justice Menon, in a letter addressed to the Registrar Generals of all Excessive Courts, suggested to make sure that no appointments, promotions, or tutorial selections are made on the premise of {qualifications} that would not have the sanction of the Bar Council of India.
“All Excessive Courts are respectfully requested to ake judicial observe of this regulatory place, and to make sure that no appointments, promotions, or tutorial selections are made on the premise of {qualifications} that would not have the sanction of the Bar Council of India. The Courts could additional be happy to direct that any candidate looking for appointment or development on the premise of an LL.M. or associated qualification should furnish affirmation from BCI that the programme was carried out in compliance with the Authorized Training Guidelines, 2008and 2020,” Justice Menon mentioned.
Using nomenclatures reminiscent of “LL.M. (Skilled)” or “Govt LL.M.” has turn out to be a technique to bypass the statutory construction, he mentioned.
Justice Menon’s report revealed that the BCI has issued show-cause notices to many premier nationwide legislation universities, following which they stopped such programmes. The report additional disclosed that they’re within the means of issuing discover to the Nationwide Regulation Institute College (NLIU) in Bhopal, IIT Kharagpur, OP Jindal International College (JGU) in Sonipat, and Nationwide Regulation College, Delhi (NLU Delhi) for providing LL.M. or equally designated authorized programmes via on-line, distance, blended, or hybrid codecs with out requisite approval.
Justice Menon’s report rejected the argument of among the Universities that ‘Govt’ LL.M applications don’t require BCI’s approval as they aren’t conventional LL.M programs.
“These claims have been discovered to be untenable, notably the place the protected nomenclature “LL.M.” was prominently utilized in commercials, brochures, and tutorial communications. Using “LLM.”, a time period denoting the postgraduate Grasp of Legal guidelines diploma, with out parameter approval/recognition from the Bar Council of India constitutes a deliberate try and mislead potential college students and misappropriate the statutory and tutorial standing related to this qualification.”
“In view of the above, it’s reiterated that any LL.M. or equal authorized programme provided in on-line, distance, blended, or hybrid mode, or underneath deceptive nomenclature reminiscent of LL.M. (Skilled) or M.Sc. (Regulation), with out prior BCI approval, is unauthorized and shall not be recognised for any function by any means,” Justice Menon’s report mentioned.
Click here to read the BCI’s letter to VCs and the report of Justice Menon.
