Sat Mar 22 04:25:24 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Rebukes Bar Council, Upholds Online Law Studies for Murder Convicts
**NEW DELHI** – The Supreme Court of India today dismissed a Bar Council of India (BCI) challenge against a Kerala High Court ruling allowing two convicted murderers to pursue LLB studies online. The Court sharply criticized the BCI’s involvement in legal education, asserting that it should be left to legal experts and academics.
Justice Surya Kant, delivering the court’s opinion, stated that the BCI “has no business to go into this legal education part,” adding, “Legal education should be left to the jurists, to the legal academicians.” He expressed concern about the BCI’s approach to legal education, urging them to adopt a more progressive stance.
The BCI argued that the High Court’s decision contravened University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations regarding online learning for convicts. However, the Supreme Court questioned this stance, asking what would happen if the convicts were acquitted on appeal. The Court further criticized the BCI for opposing the High Court’s order, suggesting they should have offered support instead.
While the BCI claimed it wasn’t seeking to stay the High Court order but rather to address broader legal issues, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the Kerala High Court’s decision, permitting the convicted individuals to continue their online LLB studies under the specific circumstances of the case. The ruling represents a significant rebuke of the BCI and a clear endorsement of a more inclusive approach to legal education.
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