The Kerala High Court is currently looking into a serious problem that puts the careers of many law students and graduates at risk. The court has questioned if the Bar Council of India's (BCI) permission for the five-year BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law) course at Government Law College (GLC), Kozhikode, ended after the **2011** batch. This means thousands of law graduates, including those now working as lawyers and even judges, might have degrees that are not fully valid.
This important matter came to light after a graduate, **Muhammed Anwar Saidu**, approached the court. He completed his law course in **2021**. He only found out about the problem when he tried to get his degree recognised in Canada for further studies or work. The official records of the BCI show that GLC Kozhikode had permission to run the five-year law course only up to the **2010-2011** academic year.
The Problem with Course Approval
Despite the BCI's permission ending after **2011**, the Government Law College, Kozhikode, continued to admit new students to the five-year BA LLB course. The college held exams and gave out degrees through its university, just like before. However, the basic approval from the BCI, which is needed for law degrees to be valid across India, was missing. Mr. Saidu stated in his court petition that neither the college nor the state higher education department told students about this big issue.
Impact on Students and Professionals
This situation has caused great worry among past and current students. Imagine studying for five years, spending a lot of money and time, only to find out your degree might not be valid. Mr. Saidu explained his difficulty in his court plea: "I spent five years and significant resources on this degree, only to face rejection abroad. The delay in discovering this has caused severe distress, financial loss, and career damage."
The problem is not just for recent graduates. Anyone who joined the BA LLB course at GLC Kozhikode after the **2011** batch could be affected. This includes many people who are already practising as lawyers or serving as judicial officers (judges). Their professional standing and future careers could be in danger if their degrees are found invalid.
Legal Action and Court's View
Mr. Saidu has also accused the Bar Council of Kerala of allowing these graduates to register as lawyers, which might be against Section 24 of the Advocates Act, **1961**. This Act sets rules for who can become a lawyer in India. He has asked the court to order GLC and the state government to get BCI approval for the course from **2011** onwards. He also wants the BCI to speed up this approval process.
Justice V.G. Arun, the judge handling this case in the Kerala High Court, understands the seriousness of the issue. He said, "This needs immediate correction. Many lawyers and judicial officers could face serious consequences." The judge has asked the BCI's lawyer, Rajit, to get urgent instructions from the BCI and inform the court about the steps they will take.
Next Steps
The court case will continue, and all eyes are on the BCI, GLC Kozhikode, and the Kerala government. They need to find a way to resolve this issue quickly to protect the careers of thousands of students and legal professionals. This situation highlights how important it is for educational institutions to follow all rules and for students to check the validity of their courses carefully.
