BCI cannot run a law college, Prashant Bhushan tells Supreme Court

Advocate Prashant Bhushan told the Supreme Court on Monday that he is filing a petition challenging the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) role in operating a law college while also regulating legal education, alleging a conflict of interest. He made the submission before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, which was hearing a separate plea by former bureaucrat EAS Sarma challenging the SHANTI Act on nuclear compensation, India Today reported.

Bhushan drew a parallel with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, arguing that its independence was undermined because its members are appointed on the recommendation of the Atomic Energy Commission, which operates nuclear plants. He said the BCI faces the same issue by running the India International University of Legal Education and Research in Goa through its trust while regulating law colleges, news.abplive.com reported.

BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has previously said the proposed National Legal Academy for compulsory lawyer training would be set up at the university. Bhushan’s petition is yet to be formally filed in court.