The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the rights of two life-sentenced murder convicts in Kerala to pursue their legal education online, in a significant decision that challenged the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) resistance to such educational reforms in prisons.
Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh upheld a previous Kerala High Court ruling that permitted the convicts, Pattakka Suresh Babu and V Vinoyi, to continue their law studies online. The justices rebuked the BCI for opposing what they called a “reformatory move” and adhering to outdated views. “Why should BCI oppose a direction like this? This is reformative. Instead of supporting such a progressive move, you are following an orthodox approach,” the bench stated during the proceedings.
The BCI had contested the High Court’s decision, arguing that allowing incarcerated individuals to study law online could establish a problematic precedent, particularly as law courses traditionally require in-person attendance and practical engagement. However, the Supreme Court dismissed these concerns, emphasizing that education could act as a powerful tool for the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.
Justice Kant expressed a strong opinion about the BCI’s involvement in legal education, suggesting that it should be overseen by jurists and scholars instead: “I personally feel BCI should not be involved in legal education at all. It should be left to jurists and scholars. BCI should have mercy on legal education.”
The court also noted that the petition by the BCI was not only lacking in merit but also was delayed by 394 days, providing no substantial justification to overturn the High Court’s decision made in 2023. “We are satisfied that the high court order granting permission to the respondents number 2 and 3 to attend classes, in the peculiar circumstances of this case, does not warrant any interference,” the Supreme Court declared, dismissing the petition on both procedural and substantive grounds while leaving the legal question open.
The origins of this case trace back to November 2023 when the Kerala High Court granted Suresh and Vinoyi permission to study law online. Suresh is enrolled at KMCT Law College in Kuttipuram and resides at the Open Prison and Correctional Home in Cheemeni, Kannur, whereas Vinoyi studies at Sree Narayana Law College in Poothotta, Ernakulam, and is incarcerated at the Central Prison, Kannur.
