New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday, on the apprehension that its task as an apex regulatory body for legal professionals could be impinged, opposed the Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal's move to support the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) Bill, 2010.

Both the NCHER Bill and the Foreign Education Promoters Bill were opposed unanimously in a meeting of BCI and state Bar Councils.

In a press release issued by BCI chairman S N P Sinha, the apprehension of the bodies regulating the professional conduct of lawyers was apparent.

The press release said that, "As is done in the case of medical and agricultural education, the members demand that legal education must be deleted from the purview of the NCHER Bill."

Being surprised at the development, the HRD minister assured that he is always open for the discussions as has been demanded by the BCI and state Councils upon the Bill.