The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern over the alleged presence of a large number of advocates practising with dubious or fabricated law degrees, observing that the issue poses a significant threat to the credibility of the legal profession. During the course of proceedings, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant remarked that regulatory bodies had failed to take effective corrective measures despite recurring allegations regarding fraudulent enrolments.
The Bench observed that the magnitude of the problem may require an independent probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation to verify the authenticity of law degrees possessed by practising lawyers across the country. The Court also made critical observations regarding the functioning of the Bar Council of India, indicating that sufficient steps had not been taken to curb the menace of fake qualifications within the legal fraternity.
The matter arose in connection with allegations concerning forged educational credentials submitted by an advocate. Stressing the importance of maintaining institutional integrity, the Court observed that allowing unqualified individuals to practise law erodes public faith in the justice delivery system and undermines the sanctity of judicial proceedings.
The Bench further noted that litigants repose immense trust in members of the Bar and therefore the process of verification of academic credentials and enrolment records must be undertaken with utmost rigour and transparency.
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