Ambedkar Advocate Training Academy to Bridge Gap Between Legal Education and Court Practice: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, January 2026: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the newly established Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Advocate Training and Research Center (BBATRC) will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between legal education and practical courtroom work. He was speaking at the inauguration of the academy in Navi Mumbai, set up by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa—the first such advocate training academy in the country.

The academy at Taloja was formally inaugurated by former Chief Justice of India Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, while the event was presided over by Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Justice Chandrashekhar. Also present on the dais were Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, Additional Solicitor General of India Adv. Anil C. Singh, Maharashtra Advocate General Dr. Milind Sathe, and Goa Advocate General Adv. Devidas Pangam.

Praising the initiative, Chief Minister Fadnavis said that while judges have dedicated training academies, the Bar Council has now answered the long-standing question of why advocates should not have one. He emphasized that the academy would significantly reduce the gap between academic legal education and court craft.

The Chief Minister noted that the state government has accorded top priority to legal training and research. He lauded the optimal use of land provided by the state and the swift completion of the high-quality building, stating that it reflected the work ethic of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajitdada Pawar, to whom he paid tribute. He also appreciated the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa for taking the pioneering step of establishing India’s first exclusive advocate training academy.

Highlighting the need for skilled lawyers and prosecutors in an era of changing laws, new criminal codes, and the growing use of artificial intelligence and technology, Fadnavis announced that the state government would release a grant of ₹10 crore for the academy after the upcoming budget session.

He further stressed the importance of training systems in line with technological changes in an expanding economy, cautioning against the risks of using AI in petition drafting without due care. Emphasizing that quality is impossible without research, he expressed confidence that the research center would emerge as a leading hub for high-quality legal research in the future.

The introductory address was delivered by senior advocate and BCMG President Harshad Nimbalkar. On the occasion, Chief Minister Fadnavis presented the “Vidhi Maharshi Award” to Justice B.B. Chavan, while a posthumous award to civil lawyer Dnyaneshwar Bavarekar of Amravati was accepted by his son Adv. Sanjay Bavarekar.

Several dignitaries from the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, the Bar Council of India, senior advocates, and council members were present at the ceremony.