On Thursday (January 24), the Supreme Court raised significant concerns about the prolonged delays in verifying advocates’ law degrees and enrolments by the Bar Councils.
A bench comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan was hearing a transfer petition filed by the BCI. Highlighting the long-standing issue of pending degree verifications, the CJI remarked:
“It is a very serious thing. The verification drive must be expedited. There has to be a timeline for this”
Senior Advocate R. Balasubramanian, representing the BCI, informed the bench that the verification process is conducted state-wise, which has contributed to the delays.
Taking this into account, the bench instructed the BCI to submit an updated status report within eight weeks.
It is noteworthy that in April 2023, a bench comprising then-CJI Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha, and Justice J.B. Pardiwala had ordered the formation of a High-Powered Committee to oversee the verification of advocates’ degree certificates.