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BCI withdraws age cap for law courses; SC closes plea

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In short

The Supreme Court closed the plea filed by Rishabh Duggal after advocate Radhika Gautam confirmed that the Bar Council of India's General Council resolved to retract the age limits. The underlying challenge targeted Clause 28 of Schedule III of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008, which had originally capped admissions for five-year programs at 20 years for general applicants and 22 years for reserved categories. Although the top court stayed these limits in March 2017, the council's latest official withdrawal renders the long-standing petition entirely infructuous.

Key points

  • Candidates of any age are now formally permitted to apply for three-year and five-year la…: Candidates of any age are now formally permitted to apply for three-year and five-year law degree programmes.
  • The Bar Council of India's General Council formally resolved to fully retract all upper-a…: The Bar Council of India's General Council formally resolved to fully retract all upper-age admission restrictions.
  • The judicial proceedings challenging the 2016 circular have formally concluded following…: The judicial proceedings challenging the 2016 circular have formally concluded following the regulatory policy change.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn the upper-age restrictions for admission to three-year and five-year law degree programmes, paving the way for aspirants of all age groups to pursue legal education.

Taking note of the BCI's decision, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana disposed of the plea filed against the age restriction.

In March 2017, the top court had stayed the decision of the Bar Council of India (BCI) prescribing an upper age limit of 22 years for the five-year LLB course and 45 years for the three-year course.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by one Rishabh Duggal challenging a 2016 BCI circular that had reinstated Clause 28 of Schedule III of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008.

The provision prescribed a maximum age limit of 20 years for admission to the five-year integrated law programme.

Advocate Radhika Gautam, appearing for the council, apprised the bench that the BCI's General Council had resolved to withdraw the…

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