116 new proposals for setting up New Law Colleges are pending; Union Law Minister

The Bar Council of India, a statutory body under the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961) has informed that they had received 116 new proposals (including three proposals from the State of Andhra Pradesh for fresh approval) for setting up new law colleges for the year 2015-16 in which 79 applications were considered for inspection since they submitted all required documents. So far 72 law colleges have been inspected by the Bar Council of India and the matter of approval of affiliation has been considered for 64 law colleges by the Legal Education committee of the Bar council of India at its meeting held on 26th April, 2015 and 27th May, 2015 respectively and the communication has also been sent to the concerned law colleges. The bar Council of India has further informed that remaining 7 law colleges (4 in Assam, Meghalaya, etc., 1 in Karnataka, 1 in Chhattisgarh and 1 in Kolkata) will be inspected within a short period of time.

The Bar Council of India has informed that the communication has been sent to law colleges and concerned Universities and State Bar Councils including Higher Education Departments of concerned States. Most of the law colleges have started their admission process.

This information was given by Union Minister of Ministry of Law & Justice, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

In another written reply the Law Minister five the following information about the Directorate of Legal Education.

The Bar Council of India Vide their Resolution No.115/2012 have resolved to constitute a Directorate of Legal Studies and Law Reforms as well as Legal Education Committee. The aforesaid Directorate shall discuss and lay down the procedure for conducting, holding and administering the following functions :-

(i) To monitor the All India Bar Examination;

(ii) Continued Legal Education;

(iii) Educational programmes in various centers of Legal Education and court premises;

(iv) Moot Court competitions at National and international levels;

(v) Scholarships to students;

(vi) Discussions/ seminars on various issues; and

(vii) Reforms in Legal Field, and to discuss any other issues assigned to it by the Bar Council of India. The gist of the discussion and the resolutions of the Directorate are to be placed the Legal Education Committee of Bar Council of India or before Bar Council of India for necessary action and final decision.

The BCI has informed that the Directorate and Legal Education Committee is constituted, consisting of a sitting Judge of Hon’ble Apex court who happens to be the director-in-chief of the Directorate; 3 Hon’ble sitting Judges of different High Courts including that of a Delhi High court, are the members of the Directorate; Attorney General for India and Solicitor General of India, apart from them, Vice- Chancellors of 3 National Law Schools; reputed Senior Advocates of Supreme Court of India; some retired Judges and the Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs, are the members of the Directorate. Other academicians of the country are also invited as a special invitee of the Director at the time of its meeting. The Directorate and Legal Education Committee discuss and deal with the continuing Legal Education, Teacher’s Training, advanced specialized courses, education programme for students, seminars and workshops, legal research and all other issues, revision of curriculum for the law Courses etc.

The Bar Council of India itself is taking care of Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education for development of professional skills, it undertakes training programmes and workshops for young lawyers frequently.