BCI Declares Unapproved Online LLM Programs Unauthorized

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) The Bar Council of India (BCI) has stated that the offering of LLM or equivalent legal courses online or through a hybrid mode without its approval is unauthorized and unrecognized.

The BCI has issued an advisory to combat the rise of unapproved Master of Laws (LLM) programs that are offered online, through distance, or hybrid modes. This advisory, authored by Justice (retd) Rajendra Menon, the former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and Co-Chairperson of the BCI's standing committee on legal education, was dispatched to all high courts on June 25 for necessary action.

"It is reiterated that any LLM or equivalent legal programme offered in online, distance, blended, or hybrid mode, or under misleading nomenclature such as LLM (Professional) or MSc (Law), without prior BCI approval, is unauthorized and shall not be recognized for any purpose whatsoever," the advisory stated.

The advisory continued, noting that such programs would be invalid for employment, academic appointments, research registration, judicial service, or departmental promotional eligibility. Qualifications earned through these programs will be considered null and void from inception, and any reliance on them by candidates will amount to misrepresentation.

The advisory further urged high courts to acknowledge this regulatory position and ensure no appointments, promotions, or academic decisions are based on unapproved qualifications. "The (High) Courts may further be pleased to direct that any candidate seeking appointment or advancement on the basis of an LLM or related qualification must furnish confirmation from BCI that the programme was conducted in compliance with the Legal Education Rules, 2008 and 2020,” Justice Menon added.

The BCI expressed concern about numerous institutions, including reputed universities and private centers, offering postgraduate legal education programs via non-traditional formats without securing the necessary approval. This includes online-only, blended learning, and open and distance learning models.

"The Bar Council of India has already issued showcause notices and is in the process of issuing them to several institutions, including National Law Institute University, Bhopal; Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat; and National Law University, Delhi, for offering LLM or similarly designated legal programmes through online, distance, blended, or hybrid formats without requisite approval," the letter noted.

Justice Menon pointed out that some institutions attempted to justify their programs by claiming they were "executive" in nature or not equivalent to the traditional LLM degree. However, these claims were deemed untenable, especially when the term 'LLM' was used in advertisements and academic communications. The unauthorized use of the term 'LLM' is a deliberate attempt to mislead students and misuse the statutory and academic status associated with this qualification.

The BCI emphasized that such practices are impermissible under statutory regulations, and any degree earned through these modes will not be recognized for academic appointments, UGC-NET eligibility, PhD registration, or judicial services. The LLM, being a statutorily regulated degree, cannot be misused under the guise of ‘executive’ or ‘professional’ LLM programs, as this constitutes academic fraud.

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