BCI mandates strict regulations for law students
The Bar Council of India has mandated several regulations for law students amidst the RGNLU controversy.
The top regulatory body for legal education, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has mandated several regulations. It includes immediate implementation of biometric attendance systems and criminal background checks for law students. A directive was issued on Tuesday, September 24,2024, where the BCI instructed legal education institutes to enforce the measures.
A letter was sent to vice-chancellors, deans, faculty and law students in which the BCI called on Centres of legal education (CLEs) to confirm whether students are employed while studying and install CCTV cameras across the campus.
In a letter addressed to vice-chancellors, deans, faculty, and law students, the BCI called on Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) to confirm whether students are employed while studying, and to install CCTV cameras across campus, and the footage being preserved for a year to facilitate any investigations related to student conduct or attendance. Additionally, installing biometric systems for accurately monitoring student attendance.
Law students are now required to adhere to the strict guidelines. Beginning with, the students have to disclose any ongoing FIRs, criminal cases, convictions, or acquittals before receiving their final mark sheets or degrees. The student has to state they have not been enrolled in any other full-time course while pursuing the law degree. Short-term certificate courses are however valid.
In case a student is employed during this time they must inform the higher authorities and obtain a non-objection certificate for the same.
It is mandatory for the institutions to adhere to the regulations; a strict action will be taken by BCI of found otherwise. The decision comes after the recent incident at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) . The students have protested again the vice chancellor, following allegations that he entered the women’s hostel and made inappropriate comments about their clothing. RGNUL was closed until further notice on September 23. When the bench was set up for discussion no student attended it thus resulting in closure of the university.
To ensure better discipline, transparency, and accountability in legal education.
Students must undergo criminal background checks, maintain biometric attendance, disclose employment information, and abide by CCTV surveillance.
They may face disciplinary action, including withholding of degrees or certificates.
In response to recent incidents at law universities, such as the RGNUL controversy.
Students can pursue short-term certificate courses while studying for their law degrees.
