BCI Hails 'Historic' Judgment Of Apex Court In Ajay Vijh v. Indian Banks Association, Proposes Establishment Of National Legal Academy

The Bar Council of India (BCI) issued a press statement welcoming the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Ajay Vijh versus Indian Banks Association and Others, and has proposed the establishment of the National Legal Academy.

The BCI has said that the Supreme Court has emphatically recognised that the independence of the legal profession is as essential to the preservation of the rule of law and democracy as the independence of the judiciary itself.

The Press Release dated July 08, 2026 said, "The suggestion of the Court for the establishment of a full-time National Legal Academy for advocates, broadly on the lines of the National Judicial Academy, and the direction to the Bar Council of India to constitute a team of senior advocates, junior advocates and experts experienced in establishing academic institutions to consider, discuss and evolve the proposal, are among the most path-breaking and epoch-making steps in the history of the legal profession...The proposed National Legal Academy would be a major transformative national institution. It can become a centre for continuing professional development, mentoring, ethical training, technological capacity building, advanced advocacy, specialised legal education and transmission of the finest traditions and values of the Bar to future generations."

In the ruling, the apex court reiterated that advocates acted as officers of the Court, integral participants in the administration of justice, defenders of constitutional freedoms, and indispensable partners in maintaining the credibility of the justice delivery system.

The BCI welcomed the judicial declaration that all matters concerning the professional conduct, competence, negligence, or misconduct of advocates fell within the exclusive disciplinary jurisdiction of the statutory bodies constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961. To ensure this mechanism operated effectively, the Supreme Court directed the BCI to constitute a committee to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of the disciplinary procedures administered by the BCI and various State Bar Councils.

"The Bar Council of India also welcomes the far-reaching emphasis placed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court upon institutionalising Continuing Legal Education for advocates. The legal profession cannot remain static in a changing society...It is a most welcome step and judgment rightly recognises that post-enrolment education must move beyond occasional seminars and ceremonial conferences", the Press Release said.

The Council accepted this responsibility with seriousness and humility, committing to objectively examining institutional pendency, timelines, and transparency.

Furthermore, the judgment placed significant emphasis on institutionalizing Continuing Legal Education for practitioners. The apex court suggested the establishment of a full-time National Legal Academy for advocates, conceptualized along the lines of the National Judicial Academy. It further directed the BCI to form an expert team of senior advocates, junior advocates, and institutional specialists to discuss and evolve this proposal. The BCI viewed the proposed academy as a major transformative national institution that would bridge regional variations and enhance technological capacity building across the Bar.

The Supreme Court also underlined that reducing judicial pendency did not remain the sole responsibility of the judiciary, noting that the Bar served as an equal institutional partner in the administration of justice. It called for a shared national mission focused on timely disposal of cases, professional preparation, and the avoidance of unnecessary adjournments.

"The Bar and the Bench are not isolated institutions. Reform in the justice delivery system can succeed only through cooperation, coordinated planning, mutual respect and shared accountability", it said.

In immediate response to these judicial mandates, the BCI announced its decision to convene a meeting to constitute the required expert groups and committees. The proposed deliberations targeted the framework for the performance audit, the structured national model for CLE, and the preliminary identification of land and infrastructure for the new academy.

The proposed deliberations shall include:

1. Constitution of a broad-based committee to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of disciplinary mechanisms under the Advocates Act, 1961

2. Collection and analysis of reliable data relating to disciplinary complaints, disposals, pendency, timelines, staffing, procedural practices and institutional support across State Bar Councils

3. Examination of measures for ensuring expeditious, fair, transparent and effective disciplinary proceedings

4. Constitution of a team of senior advocates, junior advocates, academicians and institutional experts to prepare the framework for the proposed National Legal Academy

5. Preparation of a structured national model for Continuing Legal Education, professional development, mentoring and specialised training of advocates

6. Identification of technological, administrative and institutional reforms necessary for modernising the regulatory and educational framework of the legal profession

Ultimately, the BCI committed to executing the directions in true letter and spirit and resolved to place a detailed compliance affidavit before the Supreme Court within the prescribed time limits.

Click here to read/download the Press Release