The Bar Council of India (BCI) has approved a one-time, exceptional and transitional arrangement allowing eligible law graduates covered by the Supreme Court’s July 21, 2026 order to seek enrolment as advocates despite attendance shortage, subject to fulfilment of all other statutory requirements.
The decision was taken after considering representations from students of the University of Delhi and the Supreme Court’s directions in the pending attendance-related proceedings.
The BCI clarified that the arrangement applies to students whose academic session was ongoing when the Delhi High Court judgment dated November 3, 2025 was rendered and who were subsequently protected by the Supreme Court’s order dated July 21, 2026. The Supreme Court had permitted such students to appear in their final examinations, including supplementary examinations, despite attendance shortage.
The BCI observed that it would be anomalous if students who were permitted under judicial orders to complete their course, appear for examinations and obtain a recognised LL.B. degree were subsequently denied enrolment solely on the basis of the same attendance deficiency that had been judicially protected.