In a decisive move, the Bar Council of India (BCI) took significant steps against Sanjeev Nasiar, Vice-Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), amid allegations of possessing a “highly questionable” LL.B. (Hons.) degree. The BCI has referred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a detailed examination of Nasiar’s academic credentials and the authenticity of his law degree.
Sanjeev Nasiar was stripped of his vice-chairmanship pending the results of the CBI’s investigation, as the BCI deemed his degree “highly questionable.” This follows the adoption of a detailed inquiry report by a BCI sub-committee, which highlighted numerous irregularities in Nasiar’s qualifications.
The controversy centers around Nasiar’s degree from P.M.B. Gujarati Arts and Law College in Indore, which was purportedly issued in 1988—a time when the LL.B. (Hons.) program he claimed to have completed did not officially exist under BCI regulations. The degree program was only introduced in 2008. Additionally, examination of the records from Devi Ahilyabai Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), which affiliated the college, revealed potential tampering, as documents showcased uniform handwriting and ink consistency, casting doubt on their authenticity.
The inquiry was initiated following a high court directive stemming from a writ petition filed by Naresh Chand Gupta, another advocate. Gupta’s petition accused Nasiar of enrolling as an advocate with the BCD using falsified academic documents. He also cited previous incidents of forged degrees associated with the same university.
Despite attempts by university officials to affirm the validity of Nasiar’s degree, their lack of cooperation and obstruction during the inquiry only added to the suspicions, prompting the BCI to act to protect the legal profession’s integrity and public trust.
The BCI, in its resolution, emphasized the necessity of these actions: “This measure is necessary to safeguard the integrity and dignity of the legal profession and ensure public confidence in it. The Bar Council of India is conscientious to uphold the prestige and honor of the legal profession and remains resolute in its resolve to uphold its sanctity to ensure that only those meeting the highest standards of ethics and qualifications are permitted to practice law in India.”
The case is now in the hands of the CBI, which will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
