Regulation of Legal Education

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed that the Human Resource Development Minister vide his letters dated 06.07.2012 and 30.07.2012 has assured that the powers of the BCI in relation to education institutions leading to grant of degree for the practice of law shall not be affected by the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice, said that the “The Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011”, introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Human Resource Development on 28.12.2011, has been referred to the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development and is pending consideration before the Committee. The Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011 provides for constitution of Expert Advisory Groups, consisting of such number of persons as may be deemed fit, for assisting the General Council in advising the National Commission for Higher Education and Research. Shri Khurshid said that the head of the Bar Council of India shall preside over the Expert Advisory Group concerning legal education.