Breaking; Pursuing law and practicing law are two different things. One can pursue law but for the purpose of obtaining license to practice, they must fulfill all the requirements and conditions prescribed by BCI: SC

Dismissing an appeal demanding enrolment as an advocate, in the absence of a recognized graduation degree, a Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice A.M. Sapre observed, "Bar Council of India is not bound to grant a license as claimed by the appellant. Pursuing law and practicing law are two different things. One can pursue law but for the purpose of obtaining license to practice, he or she must fulfill all the requirements and conditions prescribed by the Bar Council of India."

The appeal was filed against a 2006 judgment of the Bombay High Court, which upheld the order by BCI, denying enrollment to the appellant.

The bench examined various provisions of the Advocates Act as well as the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and agreed with the view of the High Court that Bar Council has the independent power to recognize any equivalent qualification to a graduate degree for the purpose of admission in the course of graduate degree in law.

The appellant had contended, "Bar Council of India does not even have a defined policy as regards the equivalent of educational qualification to the graduation degree and the Bar Council makes a decision on case to case basis and such procedure itself is unfair and arbitrary without any guidelines and in that case the decision of other professional body like Central Council of Homoeopathy and academic body like University of Mumbai should be decisive."

Counsel for BCI however submitted that under the provisions of Advocates Act and Rules framed thereunder, Bar Council of India is empowered to lay down standards of legal education and recognition of degrees in law for the purpose of admission as advocates. It was asserted that qualification possessed by the appellant was at no point of time considered as equivalent to a graduate degree of a university by the Bar Council of India.

BCI also submitted that the appellant's LL.B. degree wasn't being withdrawn; only enrolment is being denied.

The appellant, after completion of professional course i.e. Licentiate of the Court of Examiners in Homoeopathy medicines (LCEH), had taken admission to LL.B. course conducted by University of Mumbai. She submitted that LCEH is considered as equivalent to graduation degree by the Central Council of Homoeopathy and such decision is even approved by the Government of India for equating the pay scales.

The University of Mumbai admitted the appellant to law course after satisfying itself as regards the equivalence of the professional qualification possessed by her.

However, after completion of her LL.B. degree course, when she applied for enrollment with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, she wasn't considered for the same as her qualification LCEH is not recognized by Bar Council of India.

She hence approached the Bombay High Court and contended that the Bar Council of Maharashtra or Bar Council of India has no jurisdiction or authorities to decide the question of equivalence of educational qualifications, and therefore, their orders are not valid.

She had asserted that Bombay University having considered this as a degree equivalent to BHMS admitted the appellant for the three years LL.B. course and now she cannot be denied the enrolment on the ground of non-recognition of the degree of LCEH. She also pleaded that the appellant was not given an opportunity to put forward her case and hence the principles of natural justice were violated and consequently the whole action is of violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

The Court observed "The Bar Council of  India  Rules  provide  that  for  the  purpose  of joining the course in law for a degree, candidate must be a graduate of  any University  or  must  possess  such  academic   qualifications   which   are considered equivalent to a graduate degree of  a  University  recognized  by the Bar Council of India.  As  noticed  above,  Section  7  and  Section  49 specifically empower the Bar Council of India to make  rules  prescribing  a minimum qualification required for admission for the  course  of  degree  in law from any recognized University".

"In our view, the High Court has rightly held that Bar Council has  the independent power to recognize any equivalent qualification  to  a  graduate degree for the purpose of admission in the  course  of  graduate  degree  in law."

Read the judgment here.