Dhirubhai Ambani University-SOL faces backlash over claims that it offered LL.M. programme in hybrid mode

Dhirubhai Ambani University - School of Law (DAU-SOL) recently came under scrutiny after allegations were made that it was offering its LL.M. programme in a combined hybrid online and offline mode, in violation of Bar Council of India (BCI) guidelines.

As per a BCI directive issued on June 25, 2025 an LL.M. programme cannot be offered in the online or hybrid mode. The Council reasoned that online or distance learning legal education is not comparable to conventional classrooms due to a lack of interactive legal discourse, faculty-student engagement, legal reasoning, argumentation and analysis.

The directive goes on to state that LL.M. programmes conducted online do not require formal academic leave from the candidate's professional employment.

"This directly violates the minimum academic rigour, full-time attendance, and immersive engagement required under the BCI Legal Education Rules."

Referencing an earlier circular, the directive stated that any such programme would not be recognised for academic, employment or professional purposes including eligibility for teaching LL.B or registration for Ph.D in Law.

When asked whether classes were held online or offline, a student from the LL.M. programme revealed to Bar & Bench,

"The classes are sometimes held online or offline. If students are unable to join physically, an online class link is also made so that they can attend it online. Sometimes, when the professors are travelling, it becomes completely online. The course structure that has been communicated with us says 40% mandatorily online."

A tweet by the Indian National Association of Legal Professionals (INALP) issued a public statement of its disassociation from DAU-SOL on the grounds that the hybrid LL.M. programme was not in line with the BCI's directive.

INALP has also stated it will make a formal representation before the BCI to investigate as per its jurisdiction under the applicable Legal Education Rules. It also adds screenshots of LL.M. programme Whatsapp groups as annexures where students are being asked to join online links.

Founding faculty member of DAU-SOL Dr Manuj Bhardwaj told Bar & Bench that he resigned from the University on April 2 after he did not submit a probationary internal review document. He added that he had voiced concerns on being asked to take 4-5 lectures in a week in the online mode.

Dr Manuj Bhardwaj is Executive Secretary of the INALP.

He said that industry experts who would take classes for the specialised LL.M. programmes were asked to take their lectures online, as the University faced financial constraints in hosting them offline.

While talking about the LL.M programme schedule he said,

"They call it for 'working professionals'. There are classes on Tuesday, Thursday 2-3 hours early morning and then Saturday the full day has 2 classes 3-3 hours (each). All the research methodology classes which are again mandatory, most of these are conducted online. That was conducted by other professors."

Dhirubhai Ambani University - School of Law is not listed in the BCI's list of approved law colleges or universities.

DAU-SOL responds to the allegations

In an email to Bar & Bench, Associate Professor and Vertical Head Dr Vini Singh said,

"Our LL.M. programme is a full-time, campus-based postgraduate degree conducted offline, in-person mode on our Gandhinagar campus. Classes are scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with students engaging directly with faculty through physical attendance, consultations, research supervision and campus facilities. A very limited number of sessions (ad hoc and temporary in nature) were conducted online due to unavoidable circumstances, such as a faculty member's medical emergency and the Eid al-Fitr national holiday. These exceptions do not alter the programme's fundamentally physical character. "

On the issue of DAU-SOL's BCI affiliation and approval, Dr Singh wrote,

"The School of Law's postgraduate LL.M. programmes fall under UGC regulations for higher education and do not require BCI approval, as BCI oversight primarily applies to undergraduate law degrees (LL.B.) and integrated programmes. We do not currently offer any undergraduate law programmes. Should we introduce such programmes in the future or if the regulatory landscape evolves, we will promptly seek the necessary BCI approvals in full compliance."

Disclaimer: DAU-SOL advertises on Bar & Bench.