BCI Approves Two Additional Seats for Transgender Students in Kerala Law Colleges
In a progressive move, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has granted interim approval to the Kerala government’s proposal to create two supernumerary seats for transgender students in all law colleges across the State for the academic year 2025–26. These seats will be added to both three-year and five-year LLB programmes.
The decision came after the Kerala High Court had, on October 24, directed the BCI to consider and approve the government’s request. The proposal, originally submitted on August 6, aimed to ensure better inclusion of transgender persons in legal education.
Justice VG Arun, who heard the matter, appreciated the BCI’s swift response and observed that it was “heartening to note” that the authority had acted promptly in compliance with the Court’s earlier order.
The order was passed in response to a petition filed by a transgender woman who had qualified for the Kerala Law Entrance Examination (KLEE) 2025, but was denied admission to the Government Law College, Kozhikode, since no separate seat category existed for transgender candidates.
She argued that this denial violated her fundamental rights, the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The petitioner also urged the Court to direct the government to implement similar reservation across all law colleges and universities in the State.
Following the BCI’s approval, the petitioner’s counsel informed the Court that they would implead all law colleges and universities in Kerala to ensure uniform implementation. The matter will be heard again on November 7 for further directions.
Justice VG Arun remarked, “Let this be helpful to others also,” signalling hope for wider inclusivity in education.
The petitioner was represented by advocates Raghul Sudheesh, Unnikrishnan S Thandayaan, Umadevi M, Ambily T Venu, and J Lakshmi. The BCI was represented by Standing Counsel Rajit, while the State was represented by State Attorney N Manoj Kumar and Senior Government Pleader PG Pramod.
