PIL in Allahabad HC Challenges Retrospective BCI Recognition to SRMU, Seeks Stricter Oversight
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) asking for strict action against universities and colleges in Uttar Pradesh that admit students in law courses without approval from the Bar Council of India (BCI).
The petition, filed by 26-year-old lawyer Saurabh Singh from Azamgarh through advocates Siddharth Shankar Dubey and Animesh Upadhyay, seeks immediate inspection of such institutions and directions to stop unapproved admissions.
The PIL was filed in the backdrop of allegations against Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (SRMU), Barabanki, which has reportedly been running unrecognised law courses for the past three years. The petitioner said the university only had provisional BCI recognition until 2022-23 but continued admitting students in 2023-24 and 2024-25 by misrepresenting that its courses were approved.
The plea argues this amounts to cheating students who paid fees for degrees that may not allow them to register as advocates under the Advocates Act, 1961. It further alleges that students questioning the lapse of recognition were even expelled, sparking protests that drew police action.
The petition demands:
- Refund of fees to affected students
- A state-level inspection committee
- Compulsory disclosure of approval status before admissions
- Stronger checks to prevent such unauthorised courses
While the BCI issued a provisional renewal of recognition to SRMU on 3 September 2025 (covering not just the current year but also past sessions 2023-24 and 2024-25), the petitioner has challenged this as arbitrary and beyond the BCI’s powers. He claims the approval was hurriedly granted under pressure after protests and without proper inspection.
The plea stresses that this is not an isolated issue but reflects a larger problem in regulating legal education across Uttar Pradesh. Unless the court intervenes, institutions may continue admitting students illegally, causing lasting harm to their careers and eroding trust in the legal profession.
