Education bill: Bar council defers protest

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided to defer its agitation against the controversial Higher Education and Research (HER) Bill after HRD minister Kapil Sibal assured that necessary amendments will be carried out to address the concerns of lawyers.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided to defer its agitation against the controversial Higher Education and Research (HER) Bill after HRD minister Kapil Sibal assured that necessary amendments will be carried out to address the concerns of lawyers.

The BCI, which regulates legal profession and education in the country, was to organise a dharna at Jantar Mantar in the Capital against the bill on Wednesday followed by a rally across the country on August 27.

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"Sibal agreed to make all necessary amendments in the Higher Education and Research Bill 2011 and other connected bills. He has also given assurance in writing that the powers vested with Bar Council of India and state bar councils will not be affected by the bills", BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said in a letter to state bar councils.

BCI contends the bill is aimed at usurping its control over legal education. It says the government is trying to undermine the authority of elected bodies of advocates.