BCI orders removal of advocate enrolled on fake degree; flags collusion within Bar Council of Delhi

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has ordered the immediate removal of a Delhi-based advocate found to have enrolled using a fake law degree.

The Court also flagged what it described as an “exceptional case” of collusion between touts, intermediaries and insiders within the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD).

The removal proceedings concerned advocate J Vasanthan whose credentials were found to be fabricated.

The case was referred to the BCI by the Bar Council of Delhi after Bundelkhand University at Jhansi confirmed that the LL.B. degree and mark sheets submitted by Vasanthan were not genuine.

Initially, the advocate failed to respond to the show-cause notice. In a later reply, he admitted that his enrolment had been obtained through touts and intermediaries and that he had used forged academic documents. He also claimed that certain private individuals and a staff member of the BCD had assisted him in the process in exchange for money.

The sub-committee noted that the case went beyond a single forged degree. It recorded material indicating that forged documents were allegedly created from within the Bar Council of Delhi itself, in collusion with a broker and advocate Arbind Panchal, as well as a long-serving staff member, Jagdish, who had continued in service even after superannuation.

Accordingly, the BCI directed the Bar Council of Delhi to remove Vasanthan’s name from its roll of advocates with immediate effect, treat his enrolment as void and issue a public notification.

The BCI also noted serious concerns of a wider, organised network involved in fabricating educational qualifications and facilitating illegal enrolments. It observed that similar instances “cannot be ruled out”, given that the implicated staffer had been associated with the Bar Council of Delhi for over two decades.

Following this, the special committee of the Bar Council of Delhi removed Jagdish from service. His removal was made without prejudice to any further civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings that may arise from the inquiry.

Further, the BCI directed the BCD to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into all suspicious or irregular enrolments, including those potentially linked to Jagdish, Panchal or other insiders.

It further instructed the BCD to issue notices to the two advocates who issued the moral character certificate in this case, and to take appropriate steps after verifying their role in facilitating an enrolment based on forged documents.

Reiterating its statutory responsibility under the Advocates Act, the BCI said that preserving the sanctity of enrolment is central to maintaining professional standards. It emphasised that any attempt to pollute the State rolls through fraudulent means or collusive practices would constitute grave professional misconduct and would be dealt with “sternly and without any leniency.”

The Council added that the integrity of the enrolment process forms the foundation of the legal profession and any dilution of this framework shall not be tolerated.

[Read Press Release]