Patna High Court allows 15 law colleges in Bihar to operate from 2021-22 session

The Patna High Court on Wednesday lifted its stay on fresh admissions at 15 law schools in Bihar, allowing students to undertake studies for the academic session 2021-2022 [Kunal Kaushal v. The State of Bihar]..A Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar in March 2021 had stayed admissions to all law colleges in the State except Central University at South Bihar and Chanakya National Law University, Patna, citing deficiencies in mandatory infrastructural requirements.This stay was imposed pursuant to an affidavit filed by the Bar Council of India (BCI) based on inspections it had undertaken at these law colleges..The stay against 15 of these institutions was lifted this week after the BCI granted approval and issued no-objection certificates for the admission of students.Out of these colleges, 6 have been given full approval and 9 have been allowed to operate at a reduced strength..The institutions that received complete approval were KK Law College, Sri Krishna Jubilee Law College, Raghunath Pandey Memorial Law College, Faculty of Law Campus College of Commerce, Nawada Vidhi Mahavidyalaya and RPS Law College.The institutions allowed to operate at reduced strength were Narayan School of Law, Amity Law School, Munshi Singh Law College, TNB Law College, Bishwanath Singh Institute of Legal Studies, Vidhi Mahavidyalaya, Bihar Institute Of Law, Patna Law College and Ram Kumari Ayodhya Law College..While lifting the stay, the Bench clarified that the order would only be limited to one year, and for subsequent academic sessions, the institutions must approach the BCI to continue their programmes.“...we clarify that these institutions shall fully comply with all the mandatory stipulations provided under the guidelines/statutory provisions as also the directions mandatory in nature issued by the respective Universities granting approval,” the order stated..The Court categorically left a window open for public-spirited persons to approach it should any of these institutions fail to comply with any requirements..Apart from these colleges, the Court directed the BCI to go through pending inspection applications of other institutions.“We direct the Bar Council of India i.e. the Regulator to positively have the applications processed; institutions inspected and decision taken thereupon by passing a reasoned order, copy whereof shall be supplied to these institutions.".With regard to colleges that were denied approval by the BCI, the Court directed the re-inspection applications to be processed. “We clarify that no admission for the current academic session shall take place. Clarifying further, the institutions shall fulfill all other mandatory requirements, including affiliation with the respective Universities.”.The case will be taken up for further hearing on February 23..Advocates Dinu Kumar, Ritika Rani, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Sangita Kumari, Vijay Kumar Vimal, Binod Kumar and Bibhakar Tiwary appeared for the petitioners.Additional Advocate General Ajay Kumar Rastogi and Advocates Shashi Shekhar Tiwary and Rajendra Kumar Giri appeared for the State of Bihar.Advocate Vishwajeet Kumar Mishra appeared for the BCI.Senior Advocate SD Sanjay represented Central University at South Bihar and Chanakya National Law University, Patna..[Read order]