[Breaking]: BCI’s final warning to Delhi University: Reduction in seats, no evening courses from next year

The tussle between Delhi University (DU) and the Bar Council of India (BCI) over reducing the number of seats, scrapping evening classes, and BCI accreditation finally reached a closure today.

In a press conference held at the BCI office at 3.30 pm today, BCI Chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra announced that in the interest of the students, the decision to reduce seats would be implemented only from next academic year.

It was the BCI’s claim that as per the BCI’s Legal Education Rules of 2008, a maximum of 1,440 students could be admitted for the law course under Delhi University. However, around 2,300 seats were filled up by the University this year.

The Dean of Law Faculty at Delhi University, Dr. SC Raina today gave an undertaking stating that the conditions imposed by the BCI would be complied with from the next academic year.

The BCI Chairman explained the rationale behind the decision.

“In the interest of the students, the standing committee has decided that we will give DU a one-time relaxation for the academic year 2016-2017.”

Norms for the infrastructure and student teacher ratio of 40:1 will also have to be complied with.

Another bone of contention was the holding of evening law classes, something that the BCI claims is in violation of the Legal Education Rules. In fact, the BCI has now agreed to allow for evening classes for existing second and third-year students.

The following are the main decisions taken by the BCI:

• Three centres will be allowed to take 767 students each, i.e total of 2310 students for this academic year.
• From the academic year 2017-18, they can admit only 480 students per centre.
• No evening classes from the academic year 2017-18.

Below is a complete list of the decisions taken by the BCI.