[COVID-19] BCI Asks Law Universities/Colleges To Frame Alternative Flexible Schemes For Fees In Easy Instalments [Read Letter]

• To frame an alternative flexible scheme for payment of fees in easy installments instead of a lumpsum payment in one stretch
• To adjust the payable fees by reducing the proportionate costs on electricity and infrastructure maintenance which are being saved due to absence of physical classes
• To sympathetically consider any specific request(s) by students concerning payment of fees keeping in mind the hardships due to the ongoing pandemic
• To lend a helping hand to troubled students and to not impose any penalty on fees and to not debar them from attending online classes in case of their inability to pay fees.

The said directive has been issued in response to the requests of students received by the Bar Council of India from across the country with one consistent plea that Centers of Legal Education should accept payment of fees in installment during these times. They stated that their failure to meet the fee demand will result in their debarment from online classes which will result in huge mental agony and a loss of opportunity to have access to legal education.

Requests to issue directions to waive off certain components like utilization of infrastructure fees, library and other on ground facilities that are not being utilized from the total fee were also made to the BCI. The students pleaded that due to the pandemic, there is a general loss of income of parents owing to lay-offs, reduced salaries and losses in businesses and reasonable concessions in fee must be granted to them to face these tough times. They also stated that their cost of education has seen an increase during the pandemic due to the incurring costs on data packs, desktops/ laptops that are needed to access online classes.