Supreme Court seeks BCI reply on plea against three-year ban to open new law colleges

The Supreme Court sought the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) response to a plea challenging its three-year moratorium on setting up new law colleges.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard advocate Jatin Sharma’s petition, which argued that the blanket ban on new institutions and courses is arbitrary and violates Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21.

Sharma contended that BCI should address declining standards through inspections, stricter compliance, and proportionate sanctions rather than blocking all new proposals.

He urged reforms, including expert-led committees and promoting law colleges in underserved regions.

[Jatin Sharma v Bar Council of India & Ors]