Verification of Law Degree Certificates without charging any fee and without any undue delay: Bar Council of India Circular
Summary: Supreme Court directions regarding verification of Law degree certificates. The actions provided in the circular are precise and crucial for compliance. It’s essential to ensure prompt and fee-free verification, coordinate with relevant departments, and expedite the submission of verification reports. Universities must strictly adhere to these directives to avoid any adverse outcomes, including contempt of court action. It’s recommended to promptly execute the necessary actions to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders and uphold the integrity and credibility of educational qualifications within the legal profession.
BCI-LE/138/2024 (Circular-003)
06.02.2024
To,
Vice Chancellor/s
Registrar/s
Authorized Personnel
of
All Universities Issuing Law Degrees
Sub.: Urgent Compliance with Supreme Court Judgement dated April 10, 2023, passed in Writ Petition (Civil) No 82 of 2023, Ajay Shankar Srivastava vs. Bar Council of India & Anr., on Verification of Law Degree Certificates without charging any fee and without any undue delay.
Sir/Ma’am,
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a recent and crucial judgment by the Supreme Court of India that has significant implications for all Universities issuing Law degrees. The judgment, dated April 10, 2023, in Writ Petition (Civil) No 82 of 2023, Ajay Shankar Srivastava vs. Bar Council of India & Anr, mandates the following:
“All Universities and Examination Boards shall verify the genuineness of the educational certificates without charging any fee for the purpose of verification. The requisitions made by the Bar Councils shall be carried out without undue delay, and the reports of the verification shall be submitted expeditiously.”
This directive reaffirms a prior order from March 1, 2017, where a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, in Transferred Case (Civil) 126 of 2015, directed all Universities not to demand charges for the verification of educational certificates.
The Supreme Court’s directive emphasizes the necessity for all Universities issuing Law degrees to verify educational certificates promptly and without any associated fees.
Kindly, ensure that the verification of educational certificates is conducted promptly and without any charges.
Kindly coordinate with relevant departments to carry out requisitions from the Bar Councils without undue delay.
Furthermore, kindly submit the reports of verification expeditiously to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders.
We value the importance of your role in maintaining the high standards of education and professionalism.
Compliance with these directives is crucial for upholding the integrity and credibility of educational qualifications within the legal profession.
Non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders may have severe consequences, including contempt of court action. It is imperative for your University to adhere strictly to these directives to avoid any adverse outcomes.
Please find attached a copy of the afore-referred judgment of the Supreme Court dated April 10, 2023, passed in Writ Petition (Civil) No 82 of 2023, Ajay Shankar Srivastava vs. Bar Council of India & Anr, for your reference and immediate action.
Thank you for your immediate cooperation in this matter.
(Srimanto Sen)
Secretary
Bar Council of India
