Kerala High Court Closes Case on GLC Kozhikode’s BCI Affiliation
In a significant development on Monday, the Kerala High Court concluded a legal matter concerning the absence of Bar Council of India (BCI) affiliation for courses at the Government Law College (GLC) in Kozhikode. This decision follows the college’s recent approval of a provisional six-month affiliation by the BCI, as recorded in the case Muhammed Anwar Saidu v Bar Council of India & Ors.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas presided over the proceedings, observing that GLC Kozhikode had resolved outstanding payments and fulfilled all BCI requirements for provisional accreditation. Furthermore, the BCI has assured that this temporary affiliation will persist, provided the institution adheres to the established legal education standards.
Provisional Affiliation Granted
The Court’s statement emphasized, “Since the third respondent (GLC) has already cleared the defaulted amounts and complied with all conditions, provisional affiliation has been granted. The standing counsel also confirmed that the affiliation will continue if the college maintains the educational standards mandated by law. Given the provisional affiliation’s issuance and the respondent’s obligation to maintain compliance, the grievance in the writ petition has been addressed. Therefore, the writ petition is closed.”
Further, the Court directed GLC’s principal to promptly pursue regular affiliation with the BCI to avoid further issues.
Case Background
The case was initiated by Muhammed Anwar Saidu, a GLC Kozhikode alumnus, who raised concerns regarding the lapse in BCI accreditation for the institution’s five-year integrated BBA LLB (Hons) program. Saidu approached the Court after discovering that his degree was deemed ‘unqualified’ by Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation (NCA), complicating his prospects for further education and career opportunities abroad.
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Throughout earlier hearings, the Court highlighted the potential repercussions of the affiliation lapse on students and alumni, urging both the State government and the college to address the issue. The lack of BCI recognition, the Court noted, could negatively impact the future opportunities for students and graduates.
The petitioner, Muhammed Anwar Saidu, was represented by a legal team comprising advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Sarath KP, Anilkumar Cr, KS Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas, and Azad Sunil. Standing counsel Rajit represented the BCI in the proceedings.
