Gujarat High Court Lauds BCI For Granting Enrolment To Law Graduates From Unrecognized Colleges Till 2025-26 Session As 'One-Time Relief'

The Bar Council of India informed the Gujarat High Court that it had decided to grant "one time relief strictly" confined to LL.B. pass outs of grant-in-aid colleges named in the writ petitions filed by certain law graduates, and issue enrolment certificates to such petitioners till academic session 2025-2026. 

In doing so the court appreciated the positive step taken by the bar body while accepting the suggestions and directions of the court which had earlier asked the BCI to rethink and appropriately decide on granting enrolment certificates wherein institutions have not paid fee for retrospective recognition.

Justice Nikhil S. Kariel in his order said: 

"Learned Advocate Mr. Manan Shah tenders copy of Resolution of the Standing Committee of the Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India dated 05.07.2025, approved by the General Council of Bar Council of India in its General Council meeting dated 06.07.2025, more particularly in compliance of order dated 04.07.2025 of this Court. Perusing the said Resolution, it appears that the Bar Council of India has decided to allow a one time relief strictly confined to LL.B. pass outs of the grant-in-aid colleges named in the writ petitions i.e. to grant enrolment to such LL.B. pass outs, who have passed out from the grant in-aid colleges till the academic session 2025-2026. The Bar Council of India having acted positively and having accepted the suggestion of this Court, more particularly taking into consideration the interest of the Law Graduates, this Court records its appreciation for the same"

Taking note of the bar body's positive decision, particularly accepting the directions of the court in the "right spirit", the high court thereafter directed the respondents- colleges as well as the Universities concerned to strictly comply with the terms of the BCI's July 5 Resolution to "ensure that the future of the students who enter into LL.B. courses from the academic year 2026-2027 shall not be put in jeopardy”.

Meanwhile the counsel for the petitioner law graduates tendered an additional affidavit stating that while BCI has given approval for granting enrolment to the petitioners and to such Law Graduates who have passed out from the respondent grant-in-aid colleges, yet there would be an issue with regard to the date of enrolment.

The counsel submitted that the Bar Council of Gujarat may be directed to grant enrolment to the petitioners and such similarly situated LL.B. graduates,  from the date of the immediate next meeting held after the applications submitted by the Law Graduates up to the 2025-2026 academic session.

Bar Council of Gujarat's counsel said that since the matter is under consideration before the state bar council, the Court may not pass any order adding that the Bar Council of Gujarat would take an appropriate decision 'regarding the enrolment date considering the future of large number of Law Graduates'.

The court thereafter said,

"Having regard to such a submission, it is expected of the Bar Council of Gujarat to consider the case of the Law Graduates i.e. the petitioners and such similarly situated Law Graduates, who have completed their law graduation from the respondents, grant-in-aid law colleges, from near-about their date of application. In case the Bar Council takes a decision which may not be in the interest of the petitioners or such similarly situated Law Graduates, it would be open for the petitioners to take appropriate recourse in accordance with law". 

The plea was disposed of. 

Case Title: Umesh Varjanbhai Panchal & Ors. vs State of Gujarat & Ors.

Case Number: Special Civil Application 8388 of 2025

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