BCI criticizes Kerala High Court Judge for his statement on the regulation of legal education

The Bar Council of India issued a press release recently, expressing its disapproval of the comments made by Kerala High Court judge Justice Muhamed Mustaque, who referred to the regulation of legal education by the BCI as a ‘tragedy’.

According to the Council, the judge’s remark was deemed ‘weird’ as it lacked thorough research and was considered highly irresponsible on his part.

“We are shocked to read the bizarre comments of Mr. Justice Muhamed Mustaque, a Judge of Kerala High Court about regulation of legal education by the Bar Council. Only because he is a Judge, he does not have liberty to pass any comment against anybody or any organization without having proper knowledge about it. Bar Council of India strongly condemns the irresponsible comments made by Mr. Justice Muhamed Mustaque of Kerala High Court against the Bar Councils. Justice Mustaque should have done a proper homework before choosing to make such a weird comment. He should know that the elected representatives of Bar Councils have constituted a high-level committee to deal with the matters relating to Legal Education. The Bar Council of India has a separate body for the matters relating to Legal Education of the country, ” the press release read.

The Council highlighted that policies and norms related to Legal Education are determined by a High Level Committee comprising only five elected Members of the Bar Council of India.

The press release further reads, “The Committee is headed by a former Judge of Supreme Court and it has two sitting Chief Justices of High Courts as its Co-chairs. Besides, there are two former Chief Justices of High Courts and eleven renowned academicians, including Vice-Chancellors of National Law Universities, Deans of Central Universities and other Government and Private Law Universities as it’s members apart from some noted Senior Advocates of the country. The policies and norms of Legal Education are decided by this High Level Committee only. The Hon’ble Judge should know that there are only 5 elected Members of the Bar Council in its Legal Education Committee.”