Law Schools Required to Provide Accessible Learning Materials for Students with Disabilities
Over the past three years, the Bar Council of India has undertaken several initiatives to promote accessibility for persons with disabilities in law schools. The BCI mandates that all institutions seeking approval for their law programs must demonstrate compliance with accessibility standards. This includes the installation of ramps, lifts, and other facilities to accommodate students with physical disabilities. Additionally, law schools are required to provide accessible learning materials, such as Braille books and digital resources, to ensure that students with visual impairments can fully participate in their courses.
The BCI also monitors compliance through periodic inspections and feedback mechanisms to ensure that legal education institutions are continuously improving their facilities and services for students with disabilities. These measures are designed to create an inclusive educational environment that supports the diverse needs of all students.
Furthermore, Bar Council of India has requested and directed all the Centres of Legal Education to make provisions to equip them with the appropriate facilities in terms of the physical infrastructure, academic infrastructure and any other facilities required for the effective participation of disabled students, teachers and staff in their respective activities by construction of ramps, installation of elevators or lifts with auditory signals for visually impaired persons, and incorporate Braille symbols to make the college accessible for differently abled students.
Regarding the Equal Opportunity Policy, the Bar Council of India operates with a commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates, including those with disabilities, as required under Section 21 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The BCI’s approach ensures that there is no differential treatment in the legal education and profession.
The Bar Council of India is committed to promoting accessibility and equal opportunities within the legal profession. Through its regulatory framework, monitoring practices, and specific accommodations in examinations, the BCI strives to support and facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in legal education and in the broader legal field.