Prashant Bhushan to challenge BCI running law college in Supreme Court

Advocate Prashant Bhushan has told the Supreme Court that he will file a petition challenging the Bar Council of India (BCI) running a law college. Bhushan made the statement on Monday while arguing a separate case concerning the SHANTI Act on nuclear accident liability. He argued that the BCI, as a regulator of law colleges, cannot itself operate one.

Bhushan's remark appears to refer to the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) in Goa, an initiative of the BCI Trust-Pearl First established in 2022. Barandbench.com and Hindustan Times report that BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra announced on August 9 a proposal to set up a National Legal Academy at IIULER to provide compulsory 10-day or two-week training for all lawyers.

Bhushan said: 'Bar Council cannot run a law college… they are regulating these law colleges and they are running a law college.' No details of the petition's filing date have been given.