RMLNLU Secures BCI Approval Until 2026-27
In a notable development for legal education in India, Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) in Lucknow has regained its status as an approved Centre of Legal Education as per the Bar Council of India (BCI). This approval extends through the 2026-27 academic year, alleviating concerns that arose due to the lapse of this recognition over the past three academic years.
The BCI’s recently updated list erroneously indicates an intake capacity of 60 students for RMLNLU’s five-year BA.LL.B. (Hons) program. However, the university’s actual intake stands at 180 students. Sanjay K Diwakar, the University’s Joint Registrar for Administration, IT, and Examinations, clarified to Bar and Bench that this discrepancy is merely a “technical error.” He assured that RMLNLU has indeed secured official BCI approval for an intake of 180 students and that this approval includes a retrospective endorsement covering the previous three academic sessions.
Diwakar further mentioned that the university has already engaged with the BCI to rectify the erroneous figure, and anticipates that the list will be updated accordingly. The lapse in RMLNLU’s approval status occurred following the 2022-23 academic session, which had led to significant unrest among students. On May 27, students had protested, citing the lack of BCI recognition among other grievances.
By June 2, RMLNLU had communicated to Bar and Bench that it had duly submitted its renewal application and paid the requisite fees, though the approval letter “from 2023 onwards remained pending at BCI’s end.” Subsequently, on June 6, the BCI issued a show cause notice in response to public statements made by the university regarding its approval status. The BCI described these statements as “factually incomplete, legally untenable and materially misleading.”
Despite these administrative and communication challenges, RMLNLU’s administrative efforts have finally culminated in a positive outcome, with the BCI granting approval for the full intake capacity of 180 seats.
