'Higher Edu Bill not to meddle with bar councils'

The Centre has said the proposed Higer Eduction and Research Bill is intended "solely to strengthen the higher education system" and will not interfere in the regulation of disciplinary powers of bar councils.

"The bill aims at subsuming the functions of UGC, AICTE, AICTI, NCTI and DEC," Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said. He offered to discuss the matter with representatives of BCI and its state bodies. Meanwhile, Bihar Bar council chairman Baleshwar Prasad Sharma said the letter bears Sibal's signature but it is without date or any reference number. BCI members and representatives of the state bar council will sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 8, the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament against the bill.