On 18-11-2025, the Bar Council of India issued an Order for Removal of Advocate enrolled on basis of fake law degree and flagged exceptional cases of collusion and directed strict action against those involved in granting enrolment.
Background:
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On 17-11-2025, the General Council of the Bar Council of India accepted the report of Sub Committee for removal of J. Vasanthan.
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After the verification upon reference, it was found that the law degree and marksheets which were submitted by J. Vasanthan were fake.
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Initially, the advocate failed to provide any explanation after receiving a show cause notice.
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Later, he admitted that his enrolment was facilitated through intermediaries upon payment of money, and he also admitted that fabricated academic documents were used.
He further informed that a private member and a staff member of the Bar Council of Delhi were also involved.
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Upon review, the Sub Committee found that J. Vasanthan secured enrolment fraudulently and through misrepresentation.
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The Bar Council of India directed the Bar Council of Delhi to remove his name from its roll of advocates with immediate effect and directed to treat the enrolment as void and of no legal effect and to issue the requisite public notification.
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This case is an exceptional case in which fake degrees and other academic papers were allegedly created by staff of the State Bar Council in collusion with broker and tout, Arbind Panchal, who himself is an advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi.
Hence, the matter cannot be considered as an individual instance of misrepresentation by an applicant, but a grave abuse of the statutory enrolment process from within the system. -
The Sub Committee showed its concern that the facts disclosed indicate an organized criminal network involving touts, intermediaries and insiders facilitating illegal enrolments on the basis of forged educational qualifications.
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The Sub Committee said that this cannot be an isolated incident, particularly as Jagdish has been an employee of the Bar Council of Delhi for more than 2 decades.
Effects:
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The Special Committee of the Bar Council of India removed Jagdish from service.
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Enrolment obtained on the basis of forged educational qualifications and dishonest non-disclosure constitutes a fraud on the statutory body and on the scheme of the Advocates Act, 1961, and cannot be permitted to stand.
Directions of BCI to Bar Council of Delhi:
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To take strict and exemplary measures against Jagdish and all others involved in this act of fraud against a statutory body.
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To take strict action against Arbind Panchal, who is enrolled as an Advocate with Bar Council of Delhi.
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To take strict actions against insiders or outsiders who will be identified during the inquiry.
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Conduct an immediate, comprehensive and time bound inquiry into all suspicious or irregular enrolments.
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Identify and proceed against all persons involved in irregular enrolments.
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Issue notice and take appropriate action against the 2 advocates who issued the moral character certificate in the above- mentioned case
Bar Council of India reiterated its firm commitment to preserve the sanctity of enrolment and protecting professional standards under the Advocates Act, 1961. It said-
“Attempt to pollute the roll of advocates, undermine public trust or enter the legal profession through fraudulent means, forged documents or collusive practices will be treated as grave professional misconduct and a fraud on the legal system”.