A petition was recently filed before the Supreme Court challenging the BCI’s decision to abolish the one-year LLM course. The BCI last week called for certain changes to the LLM course in India. It included LLM being only law students, differences in practice if LLM degree is from a foreign university, and finally, LLM to be a 2-year course. The petitioner, Tamanna Chandan Chachlani, a law student, has challenged the Rules as it was a violation of her fundamental right to education. The petition was filed through Advocate Rahul Bhandari stated that the Bar Council has no power regulating the rules of higher legal education in India. This decision by the BCI is vague and violates the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961. If this decision is accepted, the petitioner’s right to practice the profession in the future would be affected. The plea says that the University Grants Commission (UGC) or another expert body can only make these changes.
