Class X dropout now a lawyer, courtesy IGNOU

Sushanta Kumar Sahoo's prolonged battle to be formally recognised as a lawyer wouldn't have seen the light of day had it not been for IGNOU's Bachelor's Preparatory Programme (BPP).

The Orissa High Court has directed the State Bar Council to recognise Sahoo as a bonafide lawyer, despite him not clearing the High School Certificate Examination. The Court ruled that Sahoo is fully qualified to become a member of the Bar Council of the state as he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from IGNOU and a degree in Law from Sambalpur University.

Although not a matriculate, Sahoo, a resident of Phulbani town in Orissa, cleared his BPP course and enrolled himself in the B.A. Programme of IGNOU. He was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Arts in 2004 and subsequently a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Sambalpur University.

However, the State Bar Council, on the plea that he did not have the requisite academic qualifications as per the norms, sent his application to the Bar Council of India, which turned it down on the same grounds. Finally, Sahoo turned to the Orissa High Court, which ruled in his favour and argued that all IGNOU degrees are recognised and at par with all other member universities of India. Not only that, Sahoo has earned his LL.B. degree from Sambalpur University on the basis of his B.A. Degree from IGNOU.