BCI mandates criminal background checks along with biometric attendance; CCTV for all law colleges

NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a notification mandating regulation measures for all Centers of Legal Education (CLEs). The notification is addressed to all universities, law colleges, and law students introducing the new implementation of conducting criminal background checks, along with declarations regarding academic pursuits, employment status, and attendance compliance.

As per the BCI notification, the BCI aims to ensure law students entering the legal profession must maintain the highest levels of integrity and transparency. Additionally, the BCI notice has instructed universities and law colleges to immediately comply with these requirements.

“The Bar Council of India expects full cooperation from all CLEs and law students in implementing these directives to ensure that the sanctity of the legal profession is upheld by individuals of the highest moral standing and academic merit,” the BCI statement said.

Law students will be required to submit detailed declarations concerning any ongoing or past criminal cases, simultaneous degree programs, and their employment status during their LLB programme otherwise. If in case, students fail to do so, they might face legal consequences, including the degrees being withheld, added the BCI statement.

However, institutions failing to enforce mandates will face disciplinary actions, including de-recognition or disapproval of affiliation by the BCI, the note adds.

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Declarations made by BCI

The list of declarations made by BCI for law students and all CLEs is as follows:

Criminal Background Check: Law students must maintain a clean criminal record to maintain the ethical standard for the profession. Students must make any required declaration for any ongoing FIR, criminal case, conviction, or acquittal before the issuance of their final mark sheets and degrees. Failing to which, disciplinary action may be taken.

Simultaneous degree programs: In compliance with Chapter II, Rule 6 of the Rules of Legal Education (2008), law students are prohibited from pursuing more than one regular degree program simultaneously. Students must declare they have not been engaged in any other programme under the rules.

Employment status and attendance compliance: Students must declare that they were not engaged in any job, service, or vocation during their programme unless they had obtained a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC).

“All such cases of employment must be reported to the BCI via email a bciinfo21@gmail.com with the subject heading- Student of (CLE) Employment, Vocation Status During LLB degree course.”

Biometric attendance and CCTV surveillance: All CLEs must install biometric attendance systems to ensure accurate monitoring of students’ attendance. Furthermore, CCTV cameras must be installed in classrooms and other key areas of the institution. The recordings from these CCTV cameras should be preserved for one year to support any necessary verification or investigation related to attendance and student conduct.