The Bar Council of India (BCI) has recently enacted a directive that bars private law universities from using terms such as “Indian”, “Bharatiya”, “National”, and “Rashtriya” in the titles of their legal events. This includes moot court competitions and academic conferences, as outlined in a circular issued on Tuesday, October 15.
The BCI’s directive aims to curb the misuse of these terms, which may give the false impression that such events are endorsed by the government or possess national significance without appropriate authorization. The circular cites the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950, emphasizing that labeling events with terms like “national” or “all-India” without necessary approval can be misleading.
“This order prevents a misleading representation of these events as having national stature when they lack the requisite legal or government approval,” the BCI stated in the circular.
The BCI further noted that the inappropriate use of these terms is not only misleading to participants and the public but also has been exploited by some institutions to gain sponsorships under the guise of having an official status. Such practices, according to the BCI, compromise the integrity and trust in the legal academic environment.
Only institutions such as National Law Universities (NLUs), government-affiliated law departments, or statutory bodies authorized by the BCI are permitted to host events deemed national in scope. These bodies are required to notify the Central government prior to using such terms to maintain transparency and legal compliance.
The BCI warned that severe penalties would be imposed on any institution found violating these guidelines, including possible revocation of recognition or accreditation, legal action under the 1950 Act, disqualification from organizing future events, and a loss of previously granted privileges.
This new measure by the BCI seeks to ensure that the naming of legal events accurately reflects their scope and authorization, thereby maintaining the legitimacy and credibility of academic events within India’s legal education sector.
