Kerala High Court urges State, GLC Kozhikode to take initiative to resolve BCI affiliation issue

The Kerala High Court recently urged the State government as well as the Principal of Government Law College (GLC), Kozhikode, to take steps to resolve an issue concerning the lack of active affiliation with the Bar Council of India (BC) for certain law courses offered by the college [Muhammed Anwar Saidu v Bar Council of India & Ors].

The Court was hearing a petition filed by a law graduate concerning the alleged lapse of BCI affiliation for the 5-year integrated BBA LLB (Hons) course at GLC Kozhikode. 

The Court had earlier observed that the continued uncertainty over BCI affiliation had serious consequences, which could jeopardise the future prospects of students who completed their legal education. It, therefore, called for urgent intervention to resolve the issue.

On December 16, Justice VG Arun added,

"Considering the future of the students who have passed out of the Government Law College, Kozhikode, this Court is of the definite opinion that the present imbroglio has to be resolved. For that, the Government and the Principal of the Law College should take the initiative."

The matter was then heard yesterday (Thursday, December 18), when the BCI's counsel told the Court that any grant of relief to the GLC, including issuance of an equivalency certificate, could be considered only after the law college submits a compliance report addressing affiliation requirements.

The GLC's counsel sought more time to file this compliance report.

The Court, in turn, directed the principal of GLC, Kozhikode, to file the compliance report by January 5, 2026, on which date the Court would also consider the prayer for interim relief sought by the petitioner.

The petitioner, Muhammed Anwar Saidu, had stated in his plea that, when he applied for higher studies and work opportunities abroad, his law degree was rejected by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) in Canada as 'unqualified'.

It was only then that he discovered that his law degree from GLC Kozhikode for BBA LLB (Hons) was not a qualifying law degree under NCA standards as the BCI affiliation list showed that GLC, Kozhikode's 5-year integrated law program had approval only up to the academic year of 2011.

The GLC had earlier placed a statement before the Court, explaining the reasons behind the missing BCI approval. The college submitted that since 2012, it has been writing to the BCI seeking inspection and renewal of their affiliation.

However, even after an inspection of the college by the BCI, remittance of fees and repeated requests, no other communication was made by the BCI regarding affiliation, the GLC told the Court.

The BCI, in response, filed a detailed statement placing the responsibility for the lapse on the law college. The BCI said that the college did not submit the mandatory compliance reports, after the expiry of initial approval in 2011. It further alleged that the college had failed to remit the prescribed inspection and guarantee fees in a timely manner, while continuing to impart legal education without a valid approval.

"It is respectfully submitted that the 3rd respondent Government Law College, Kozhikode, since 2012, after the initial approval of affiliation (till academic year 2011) from the Bar Council of India has not submitted the compliance report timely and it has also not paid proper regular inspection fee/Guarantee amount fee. Since the initial approval, it has come to BCIs notice that the 3rd respondent is functioning and imparting legal education without getting approval from the Bar Council of India," the statement said.

The BCI also pointed out that the college even introduced BBA LLB (Hons) programme from the academic year 2013 without obtaining prior approval.

The BCI acknowledged that the college had made payments of approximately ₹44 lakh towards inspection, default and guarantee fees, on various dates. However, it added that such payment alone was not sufficient to renew the required affiliation, in the absence of proper submission of applications and a compliance report.

The matter will be taken up next after Court's December vacations, on January 5, 2026.

The petitioner was represented by advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Sarath KP, Anilkumar Cr, KS Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas and Azad Sunil.

Standing counsel Rajit appeared for BCI.