Question : Lawyers with Fake Degrees

(a) whether the Bar Council of India (BCI) has revealed that 30 per cent of lawyers practicing in the country have fake degrees and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(b) the number of lawyers holding fake degrees reported during each of the last three years and the current year along with the action taken thereon;
(c) whether the Government/BCI proposes to verify the credentials and documents submitted by every enrolled member;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken against errant lawyers; and
(e) the mechanism put in place by the Government/BCI to address the issue?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) to (e): The Bar Council of India, a statutory body under the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961) has informed that the number of fake lawyers cannot be exactly ascertained by now and the Bar Council of India has introduced an exhaustive mechanism/procedure for ascertaining the number and identify of such face or non-practicing lawyers and with that purpose it has framed Bar Council of India Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015. The BCI has framed these Rules in order to check and stop the occurrence of the use of such fake degrees or to stop the non-practicing persons enrolled with the State Bar Council from getting benefit or any welfare schemes of all the State Bar Councils/Government or any other institutions. The BCI through these Rules has formed the committees through State Bar Councils in order to implement the verification rules.

The Bar Council of India has further informed that within a period of 6-7 months, the entire verification process will be completed and fake lawyers will be identified. BCI has further stated that since it has not yet been exactly verified, therefore, the exact percentage of fake lawyers cannot be given.