“Being the Chairman of the BCI, I shouldn’t get involved in electoral politics. Will focus on legal education” – New BCI Chairman, Biri Singh Sinsinwar

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has unanimously elected a new Chairman in Biri Singh Sinsinwar, a BCI member from the Rajasthan State Bar Council. The new Chairman took charge on April 18 replacing Manan Kumar Mishra whose term ended on April 16..Speaking to Bar & Bench on his priorities as the new Chairman, Sinsinwar said, “Our first priority is legal education for which the main crucial issue is the syllabus in the law colleges, which must be as per the need of the society and the corporate sector otherwise we will be lacking.”.He added, “It is a competitive world. So we need to develop the best syllabus for law colleges.”.Sinsinwar enrolled with the Bar in 1984 in Rajasthan and was designated a Senior Advocate by the Rajasthan High Court in 2011..“Law has become the first choice and not the last choice. When the Advocates Act was enacted, law as a profession was the last choice. All that has changed completely”, said Sinsinwar..“The Legal Education Committee will look into this (syllabus). It will hold seminars, meeting and consultation with academia,” said the BCI Chairman..Sinsinwar said, “Our second priority is to ensure that all the law college inspections which are pending for a long time are completed soon”..He said since he has just taken charge, he will need to consult with other BCI members and see what can be best done for the legal fraternity..Some of the other planned initiatives include introducing a medical and pension scheme for lawyers as well as build cordial relations between the Bar and the Bench..On the recent increase of fees for the All India Bar Exam Sinsinwar said that, “Fees has been increased to meet the expense of conducting the exam.”.Sinsinwar, while talking on the issue of entry of foreign law firms said, “If we have to allow the entry of foreign lawyers or law firms, it will be allowed only on the basis of reciprocity. The matter is pending before the Supreme Court and I am bound by the stand the BCI has taken. Our stand is very clear that unless our lawyers and law firms are allowed to practice in foreign jurisdictions without any condition, we will not allow them entry.”.Former BCI Chairman Mishra was in the news recently for openly supporting Narendra Modi as the a Prime Ministerial candidate. When asked about this the new Chairman was quick to respond, “Being the Chairman of the BCI, it is not advisable for me to say anything. I shouldn’t get involved in electoral politics.”.“I am not going to express my views being the Chairman of BCI. The BCI has 80 lakh members and each one has completely independent view; I can’t speak on behalf of all of them.”