Law
The Bar Council of India (BCI) is a statutory body, constituted by Government of India under
Advocates Act 1961 with the main objective of controlling and governing the working of all
immediate subsidiary state-level bar councils besides laying down the standards of professional
conduct and etiquette. Though it comes under the purview of Ministry of Law and Justice,
Government of India, it is a corporate body having perpetual succession and a common seal,
with power to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and
may by the name by which it is known sue and be sued.
The council comprises of 18 Members including the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor
General of India. While both the Attorney General and the Solicitor General are Ex-officio
Members, the other 16 Members of the council represent the 16 State Bar Councils in the country.
The council is headed by a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, who are selected from among the council
members for a two-year tenure. The council members, on the other hand, are elected for period
of five years.
The Bar Council of India has constituted several committees including Education Committee,
Disciplinary Committees, Executive Committee, Legal Aid Committee, Advocates Welfare Fund
Committee, Rules Committee and various other Committees formed to look into specific issues
arising from time to time. Out of these, the Education and Disciplinary committees are
statutory committees of the council.