Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday spoke about the need to have better accountability in law colleges. He said that the Bar Council of India submitted that about 500 institutions across the country are sub-standard or below standard and it may consider closing some of them based on further inquiry.
Rijiju referred to a judgement of March 15, 2022 in which the the Supreme Court had noted about the “desirability of having better accountability from law colleges, absence of requisite faculty and monitoring by the Bar Council of India to ensure that once a law college obtains recognition, it is to maintain the parameters as set forth by the BCI”.
The BCI, in order to revamp the system, has undertaken an evaluation of these law colleges and found that at least 500 of them to be sub-standard.
“A team led by some former judges, advocates and noted academicians plan to conduct surprise visits of such institutions and if any institution is found to be below standard, ie not having sufficient faculty or infrastructure, then the BCI shall take immediate step to close such institutions”.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju
Rijiju added that with respect to the specific observations made as per order of the Supreme Court, the BCI has constituted a committee which includes former judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts to look into the matter.