Over 100 law graduates in Gujarat are in limbo after a private law college in Babra taluka of Amreli district failed to pay mandatory inspection and affiliation fees to the Bar Council of India (BCI). Due to this lapse, the college lost its recognition, leaving students without the law certificates required to practice, even though many of them have cleared the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
Under BCI rules, only graduates from recognised law colleges are eligible to appear for the AIBE and receive the final certificate (sanad). However, students who completed their LLB degrees in 2023 and 2024 from the Babra-based college have been denied certificates because the institution did not clear its pending dues.
Last year, following an interim court order, some students were allowed to appear for the AIBE and were given provisional enrolment numbers. Around 70 of them passed the exam, but their certificates have still not been issued as the college failed to pay outstanding fees for 2022, 2023 and 2024, running into several lakhs of rupees. The BCI also imposed penalties and did not renew the college’s recognition.
Though the college is affiliated with Saurashtra University, it reportedly lacks valid university affiliation as well and was barred from admissions for 2025. The situation has hit former students hard, as they remain unable to practice law without the required certificates.
Students allege that despite paying their examination fees, many were either prevented from filling the AIBE form or denied certificates even after passing. They claim they are being made to suffer for the negligence and administrative failures of the college management.