On Monday, esteemed advocate Prashant Bhushan announced his intentions to file a legal petition in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) involvement in operating a law institution. Although Bhushan did not disclose specific details, it is widely speculated that his concerns pertain to the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) located in Goa, a venture initiated by the BCI.
During his remarks to the Supreme Court, Bhushan emphasized, “The Bar Council cannot run a law college. In fact, we are preparing to file a petition to assert that the Bar Council cannot operate a law college. They are responsible for regulating these institutions, yet they also manage one.” His statements came amidst his arguments in a separate case concerning the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025 (SHANTI Act) and its implications for nuclear accident liabilities.
The IIULER, established in 2022 under the BCI Trust-Pearl First initiative, offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs. Recently, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra announced plans to introduce a National Legal Academy (NLA) at the IIULER. This initiative aims to provide mandatory training for legal professionals across India. On August 9, Mishra stated, “Young lawyers from all over the country will come to gain training at the Academy. It will be compulsory training for all lawyers. The course will last 10 days to 2 weeks, allowing students of IIULER to engage with esteemed judges, trainers, professors, and senior advocates.”
Bhushan’s challenge raises important questions about potential conflicts of interest, as the BCI is not only tasked with regulating law schools but is also directly involved in managing one. As the legal community awaits further developments, the outcome of this petition could have significant implications for the governance and operations of legal education in India.
