By Amrit Pal Singh Sidhu #Babushahi Network
Bathinda, November 9, 2026
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has withdrawn the upper-age restrictions for admission to three-year and five-year LL.B. programmes, allowing aspirants of all age groups to apply for legal education across Indian law colleges.
The decision follows a resolution passed by the BCI General Council on November 5, 2026, removing the upper age limits for admission to both programmes.
Supreme Court Disposes of Petition
The BCI informed the Supreme Court of its decision on November 9. Taking note of the withdrawal, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana disposed of the pending challenge as infructuous.
The petition, filed by Rishabh Duggal, challenged a 2016 BCI circular that had reinstated Clause 28 of Schedule III of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008. The provision prescribed upper age limits for admission to law degree courses.
In March 2017, the Supreme Court had stayed the BCI’s decision imposing upper-age restrictions.
Under the original framework of Clause 28, the BCI had prescribed a maximum admission age of 20 years for general-category candidates seeking entry to five-year integrated law programmes. For candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward communities, the upper age limit was 22 years.
The restrictions became the subject of a legal challenge following the 2016 circular reinstating the provision.
Advocate Amardeep Kaur Bajwa of the Bathinda Judicial Courts said that the withdrawal of upper-age restrictions would remove age-related barriers, enabling candidates of all age groups to apply for admission to three-year and five-year LL.B. programmes.
Senior Advocates Sanjay Goyal and Mohinder Singh Sidhu welcomed the decision, stating that it would open up the application process to older aspirants, including those who wish to pursue legal education later in life. They added that admission would, however, remain subject to other applicable eligibility criteria and the requirements prescribed by the respective institutions.