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Bar Council of India is statutory or a legal body created by the parliament for regulating and representing the Indian Bar i.e. the law practices and the legal profession in India. The Bar Council of India was established by Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961. Bar Council of India (BCI) performs various activities related to law. These functions cover everything that is of legal nature, be it legal education, law profession, law bodies and any other matter. In that sense it performs regulatory functions by prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette. It exercises disciplinary jurisdiction over the practices and professions related to law. In education, it sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to Universities whose degree in law will serve as qualification for enrolment as an advocate. It also performs certain representative functions by protecting the rights, privileges and interests of advocates through the creation of funds for providing financial assistance to organise welfare schemes for them. The period of 1950 to 1961 was important in the foundation and development of the BCI. During the period of these 10-11 years various important decisions were taken which laid down the foundation for the prevalent legal system in India. BCI has its headquarters in New Delhi.
To assist in its efficient functioning, BCI has a number of Committees which provide various recommendations to the Council. The members of these committees are elected from amongst the members of the Council. The Advocates Act mandates the creation of a Disciplinary Committee (under section 9), a Legal Education Committee, and an Executive Committee (under section 10). Chapter III of the Bar Council of India Rules permit the Council to appoint from amongst its members, one or more committees in addition to those specified in the Act. The Council can delegate powers, duties, and functions to these committees. The term of the members of the committees of the Council has been specified in Chapter III of the Bar Council of India Rules. A different term can be specified at the time of election.
BCI Committees
Indian Bar Council History: Timeline
|
Date and Place |
Events |
Developments |
|
26th January, 1950, Madras |
Inter-University Board Annual Meeting |
A resolution was passed by Inter-University Board towards the establishing an All-India Bar and for having high standards for law examinations in various universities |
|
May, 1950 |
Madras Provincial Lawyers Conference |
The conference under the presidency of Shri S. Varadachariar decided that that the Government of India should appoint a committee for the purpose of evolving a scheme for an all-India Bar and amending the Indian Bar Councils Act to bring it in conformity with the new Constitution. |
|
1st October, 1950, |
Bar Council of Madras Meeting |
The Bar Council of Madras adopted the resolution
|
|
12th April, 1951
|
Introduction of bill to the parliament for amending the Bar Councils Act |
Shri Syed Mohammed Ahmad Kazmi, a Member of Parliament, introduced a comprehensive bill to amend the India Bar Councils Act. |
|
August, 1951 |
Set up of All India Bar Committee |
The Minister of Law announced on the floor of the House that the Government of India was considering a proposal to set up a Committee of Inquiry to look into the problems regarding BCI in detail. There after All India Bar Committee was organised for the aforesaid purpose. |
|
30th March, 1953 |
Submittal of All India Bar Committee Report |
All India Bar Committee submitted its detailed report which suggested setting up of a Bar Council for each state and an All-India Bar Council at the national level. The latter one was assigned the status of the apex body for regulating the legal profession as well as to supervise the standard of legal education in India. At the same time Law Commission of India was given the task for preparing a report on the reforms of judicial administration. |
|
1961 |
Introduction of Advocates Bill |
Keeping in mind the recommendations of the All-India Bar Committee and the Law Commission, a comprehensive Advocates Bill was introduced in the Parliament which resulted in the Advocates Act, 1961 |
Bar Council of India, Delhi has regulatory and representative mandate towards the legal profession and legal education in India. This mandate states various legal functions of BCI under the Section 7.
These are:
1. To lay down standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates.
2. To lay down procedure to be followed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committees of each State Bar Council.
3. To safeguard the rights, privileges and interests of advocates.
4. To promote and support law reform.
5. To deal with and dispose of any matter which may be referred to it by a State Bar Council.
6. To promote legal education and to lay down standards of legal education. This is done in consultation with the Universities in India imparting legal education and the State Bar Councils.
7. To recognise Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate. The Bar Council of India visits and inspects Universities, or directs the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities for this purpose.
8. To conduct seminars and talks on legal topics by eminent jurists and publish journals and papers of legal interest.
9. To organise legal aid to the poor.
10. To recognise on a reciprocal basis, the foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India for the purpose of admission as an advocate in India.
11. To constitute, manage and invest the funds of the Bar Council.
Towards this effect it can:
12. To provide for the election of its members who shall run the Bar Councils.
Head of Bar Council of India
The Chairman of the Bar Council of India is the head of the Bar Council of India
As of January 2013 is Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, a Senior Advocate.
Address of BCI Head
Behind A. N. College,
Near Poultry Farm,
Sheo Puri,
Patna – 800 023
Bihar.
Phone : 0612-2284843
Mobile: 9431025478
email: [email protected]
*The above information is liable to change in future.
Bar Council of India
21, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area,
Near Bal Bhawan,
New Delhi – 110 002
Telephone Nos.:011-49225000
Telefax No.:011-49225011
E-mail ID: [email protected]
Bar Council of India Examination or All India Bar Council Exam is a competitive examination which tests an advocate’s ability to practice law. It was on April 10, 2010, that the Bar Council of India resolved to conduct an All India Bar Examination. Consequently, the first-ever All India Bar Exam (AIBE) was successfully conducted on 6th March, 2011 on Sunday across 45 examination centres. The second examination was held on 24th July, 2011. All law students graduating in the academic year 2009-2010 and onwards need to clear this exam in order to practice law in India. It is mandatory for fresh Indian lawyers to clear this examination to practice law as a profession. The examination is held biannually and the syllabus for this examination is published at least three months before the examination. An advocate can appear for the examination for any number of times. Upon successful clearance of the examination, the candidate receives a Certificate of Practice.
For more detailed information click on the link – AIBE
Helpline numbers for the All India Bar Exam (as of Jan 2013):
011-49225022 (English) or 011-49225023 (Hindi)
Email - [email protected]
BCI rules towards legal education are covered under Sections 7(1)(h) and (i), 24(1)(c)(iii), and (iiia), 49(1)(af),(ag),and (d) of the Advocates Act, 1961 made by the Bar Council of India in consultation with Universities and State Bar Councils. These rules pertain to standards of legal education and recognition of degrees in law for the purpose of enrolment as advocate and inspection of Universities for recognizing its degree in law. As such they lay mandatory and minimum requirements for opening a legal education institute.
For more detailed information, click here - Bar Council of India Legal education Rules (link is subject to change)
