Government Law College Mumbai Issues LLB Certificates with Incorrect Degree Title
In a significant administrative error that has caused confusion and concern among students, the prestigious Government Law College (GLC) in Churchgate, Mumbai, has distributed third-year, second-semester certificates containing an incorrect expansion of the LLB degree. The certificates erroneously list the qualification as "Bachelor of Legislative Law," a nomenclature that is not recognized by either the Bar Council of India or Mumbai University, under whose authority the 170-year-old institution operates.
Student Concerns and Immediate Impact
The problematic certificates were issued just as students were preparing for their fourth-year, second-semester examinations. "We were shocked to receive marksheets that read we had cleared the sixth semester of bachelor of Legislative Law," said one affected student. "As fourth-year students, we start reaching out to law firms and foreign universities around this time. Legal firms and universities would have felt we are submitting fake certificates."
LLB correctly stands for the Latin term "Legum Baccalaureus," which translates to "Bachelor of Laws" in English. The incorrect version on the certificates could potentially jeopardize students' academic and professional prospects, as official documents must adhere to standardized terminology recognized by regulatory bodies.
College Response and Rectification Efforts
When initially contacted about the error, GLC Principal Asmita Vaidya asked reporters to verify the full form of LLB on the internet and the Mumbai University website. After being informed that it stands for Bachelor of Laws, she stated that the marksheet format was provided by the University of Mumbai. She later claimed that her college could not have issued certificates with such an error.
By Friday, Principal Vaidya acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to an office clerk who had referred to an incorrect online source. "Fresh corrected certificates are being printed and distributed," she confirmed. The college subsequently issued a notice instructing second, third, and fourth-year students to collect their marksheets "with the title as per university norms." Students who had already received the erroneous certificates on Wednesday were asked to return them for replacement.
Official Reactions and Broader Issues
Retired Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, "It is very unfortunate…We have to be very cautious as GLC has a name and it has immense fame associated with it. Such mistakes should be avoided." A senior Bar Council of India official also emphasized that certificates with incorrect degree titles would not be accepted for professional purposes.
Beyond this specific error, students highlighted ongoing delays in certificate issuance at GLC, which is widely recognized as the oldest law school in Asia. Members of the 2027 graduating batch reported that until about two weeks ago, even first-semester exam certificates had not been issued. "It is only today that I have received marksheets of semester 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6," said an eighth-semester student.
Principal Vaidya explained that these delays resulted from an external agency handling result preparation that "could not manage" timelines. Consequently, the college took over the printing process internally. Corrected marksheets began being distributed from Friday, aiming to resolve both the title error and the backlog in certificate issuance.
