On Thursday, January 24, the Supreme Court voiced strong concerns regarding the prolonged delays by Bar Councils in verifying advocates’ law degrees and enrolments.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, accompanied by Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, was hearing a transfer petition filed by the Bar Council of India (BCI). Highlighting the ongoing issue of pending degree verifications, the CJI remarked:
“It is a very serious thing. The verification drive must be expedited. There has to be a timeline for this”.
Senior Advocate R. Balasubramanian, representing the BCI, informed the bench that the verification process is conducted state-wise, contributing to the delays. In response, the bench instructed the BCI to submit an updated status report within eight weeks.
Notably, in April 2023, a bench led by then-CJI Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, had directed the formation of a High-Powered Committee to oversee the verification of advocates’ degree certificates.
