Bar Council of India (BCI)

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is a statutory body, constituted by Government of India under Advocates Act 1961 with the main objective of controlling and governing the working of all immediate subsidiary state-level bar councils besides laying down the standards of professional conduct and etiquette. Though it comes under the purview of Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, it is a corporate body having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and may by the name by which it is known sue and be sued. The council comprises of 18 Members including the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India. While both the Attorney General and the Solicitor General are Ex-officio Members, the other 16 Members of the council represent the 16 State Bar Councils in the country. The council is headed by a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, who are selected from among the council members for a two-year tenure. The council members, on the other hand, are elected for period of five years. The Bar Council of India has constituted several committees including Education Committee, Disciplinary Committees, Executive Committee, Legal Aid Committee, Advocates Welfare Fund Committee, Rules Committee and various other Committees formed to look into specific issues arising from time to time. Out of these, the Education and Disciplinary committees are statutory committees of the council Activities and Function of Bar Council of India Bar council of India performs following functions under section7 (1) of theAdvocates Act 1961: Lays down standards of professional conduct and etiquette foradvocates Lays down the procedure to be followed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committee of each State Bar Council Safeguards the rights, privileges and interest of advocates Promotes and support law reform Deals and disposes any matter arising under Act, which may be referred to it by a State Bar Council Exercises general supervision and control over State Bar Councils Promotes legal education and to lay down standards of such education in consultation with the Universities in India imparting such education and the State Bar Councils; recognises Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate and for that purpose to visit and inspect Universities or cause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities in accordance with such directions as it may given be in this behalf Conducts seminars and organises talks on legal topics by eminent jurists and publish journals and papers of legal interest Organises legal aid to the poor in the prescribed manner Recognises on a reciprocal basis foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India for the purpose of admission as an advocate under this Act Manages and invest the funds of the Bar Council Provides for the election of its members Performs all other functions conferred on it by or under this Act Does all other things which are necessary for discharging the aforesaid functions Aids & Assistances Bar Council of India may constitute special fund to assist the various welfare schemes being run for the indigent and disabled advocates. Besides, the council also provides legal aid or advice as and when the need arises according to the rules made in that regard. The Council also utitlises the fund constituted by it for the purpose of setting up law libraries. Bar Council of India Rules The Bar Council of India Rules, as revised, have been published in the Gazette of India on 6th September, 1975 in Part III, Section 4 (pages 1671 to 1697) and subsequently amended from time to time. For full access of Bar Council of India Rules, Click Here. CONTACT Shri S. Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Bar Council of India, 21, Rouse Avenue, Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110002 Phones: 23231647, 23231648 (Off), 23221590 (Direct), 22786209, 22732923 (Res) Website: http://www.barcouncilofindia.org/