Kerala High Court Asks BCI to Clarify Lapse of Approval for GLC Kozhikode’s 5‑Year LLB Program

The Kerala High Court has taken up a serious matter concerning the validity of law degrees from Government Law College (GLC), Kozhikode. A petition alleges that the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) approval for the college’s 5-year LL.B. program lapsed after the 2010-2011 academic year, yet admissions continued. The Court, noting the gravity of the situation, has ordered the BCI to provide an urgent clarification by November 21, 2025. This lapse could potentially jeopardise the careers of hundreds of graduates, including practising advocates and judicial officers. Aspiring lawyers must rigorously check their institution's BCI status.

A significant administrative oversight has escalated into a major legal and professional crisis, demanding urgent intervention from the Bar Council of India (BCI). The Kerala High Court, presided over by Justice V. G. Arun, is currently examining a petition that casts serious doubt on the validity of the 5-Year LL.B. (Hons.) degrees awarded by the prestigious Government Law College (GLC), Kozhikode, for batches admitted after the 2010-2011 academic year. The petitioner alleges that the BCI's mandatory approval for the program lapsed over a decade ago, yet the college continued to admit students through the government-run Kerala Law Entrance Examination (KLEE).

​This development, brought to light when a graduate faced non-recognition abroad, underscores the critical importance of BCI approval and has sent shockwaves through the legal fraternity. The High Court has issued a directive to the BCI's standing counsel to seek immediate instructions and furnish a response by November 21, 2025. The court acknowledged the far-reaching implications, noting that this lapse potentially affects the professional standing of a large number of practicing advocates and even judicial officers who graduated during this period, turning a bureaucratic matter into a severe career crisis.

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 The Gravity of a Lapsed BCI Approval

​BCI approval is not merely a formality; it is the statutory foundation upon which a law degree's validity rests. The BCI is the apex regulatory body for legal education and practice in India under the Advocates Act, 1961. A lapse in approval carries severe, career-ending consequences for graduates.

• ​Ineligibility for Enrollment: The most critical consequence is the inability to enrol as an advocate with the State Bar Council. Without BCI approval, a law degree is considered non-qualifying under Section 24 of the Advocates Act, thus barring the graduate from receiving the mandatory Certificate of Practice (CoP).
• ​Impact on Practising Lawyers: Lawyers and judicial officers who graduated from GLC Kozhikode after 2011, and who gained enrollment based on what is now alleged to be an unapproved degree, could face challenges to their professional status, including disciplinary action or invalidation of their eligibility for judicial posts.
• ​International Recognition: As highlighted by the petitioner, Muhammed Anwar Saidu, degrees from unapproved colleges are often rejected by foreign accreditation bodies (like the National Committee on Accreditation in Canada), effectively shutting off avenues for further studies or practice abroad.
• ​Violation of Trust: The petition alleges a gross violation of public trust, as the college, a government institution, allegedly continued to admit students via the KLEE without securing the mandatory BCI recognition, creating a professional void for students who invested five years of time and resources.

​ BCI's Mandate and Requirements for Law Colleges

​The BCI grants and renews approval based on strict adherence to the Legal Education Rules, 2008. This process is designed to maintain a minimum standard of legal pedagogy, infrastructure, and faculty quality across all Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) in the country.

• ​Infrastructure and Resources: Colleges must meet minimum requirements regarding library resources, including books and law journals, adequate classroom space (minimum 750 sq. ft. per classroom), and functional moot court halls and legal aid clinics.
• ​Faculty Strength and Quality: The BCI mandates a specific student-to-faculty ratio and requires that all law faculty members possess the requisite LL.M. degree or higher, with the Principal holding a Ph.D. in Law and significant experience. Colleges must furnish authenticated bank statements proving timely and appropriate salary disbursement to full-time faculty.
• ​Periodic Inspection: Approval is not perpetual. Law colleges must apply for renewal and undergo periodic inspections by BCI committees, which verify compliance with all the stipulated rules. The alleged lapse at GLC Kozhikode since 2011 implies that these rules may not have been met or that the renewal application was not processed or granted.

​This incident underscores the BCI's recent shift toward stricter enforcement and even a three-year moratorium on new law college approvals to address the declining standard of legal education nationwide.

​ Advice for Law Aspirants: Verify Before You Apply

​This ongoing case serves as a stark warning to all current and prospective law students. While entrance exams like CLAT and KLEE secure admission, the BCI approval secures the validity of the degree. Aspirants must adopt a due diligence approach before enrolling.

• ​Check the Official List: Always check the latest official list of approved Centres of Legal Education maintained on the BCI's website (barcouncilofindia.org) before taking admission to any 5-year or 3-year LL.B. program. The list should explicitly mention the college's name and the academic session up to which the approval is valid.
• ​Demand Documentation: Prospective students should request to see the latest BCI Approval Letter or Renewal Certificate from the college's administration. This is crucial even for reputed government institutions.
• ​Monitor the Outcome: Graduates of GLC Kozhikode and students of other state-run law colleges should closely monitor the outcome of the Kerala High Court's directive, as the BCI's response will set a precedent for handling such administrative lapses. The petitioner is seeking a writ of mandamus directing the BCI to grant retrospective recognition from 2011 onwards to regularise the degrees.

​Conclusion

​The Kerala High Court’s decisive action, demanding urgent clarification from the BCI regarding the alleged lapsed approval of the 5-Year LL.B. program at Government Law College, Kozhikode, shines a harsh light on the need for rigorous institutional compliance. With the BCI's response expected soon, the fate of hundreds of legal professionals hangs in the balance. This high-profile case is a critical reminder for every aspiring lawyer: BCI approval is the single most important criterion for choosing a law school, as it is the legal guarantee of their professional future.

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