Gujarat law college’s negligence leaves 100 students without law certificates

More than 100 law graduates in Gujarat are facing an uncertain future after a private law college in Babra Taluka of Amreli district failed to pay mandatory inspection affiliation fees to the  Bar Council of India. This has resulted in non-recognition of the institution and denial of certificates to students even though they have cleared the required All India Bar Council Exam (AIBE), conducted by the council every year.

According to rules laid down by the Bar Council of India (BCI), candidates must pass the AIBE to obtain a certificate (sanad) to practice law. However, only students graduating from colleges recognised by the Bar Council are eligible to appear for the examination and receive the final certificate.

As per reports, these students of a Babra college who had completed their LLB degree in 2023 and 2024 are unable to obtain their certificates and cannot practice, despite several of them having cleared the AIBE. Some students were allowed to appear for the examination last year following an interim court order, under which the council was permitted to fill out the sanad examination form and issue a provisional enrolment number. Around 70 students cleared the exam, but their certificates have been withheld as the college has failed to clear its pending dues with the council.

The BCI had also imposed penalties on the college and demanded payment of outstanding fees for 2022, 2023, and 2024, amounting to several lakhs of rupees. When the college allegedly failed to make these payments, its recognition was not renewed.

Although the college is affiliated with Saurashtra University, it reportedly does not have a valid university affiliation either, and was excluded from admissions for the year 2025. The impact has been severe on former students who are unable to practice law due to the absence of a valid certificate.

Several students have complained that despite paying examination fees, they were either not allowed to fill out the AIBE form or were denied certificates after passing the exam. Students allege that they are being punished for the negligence and administrative failure of the college management.