Bar Council Members Dictating Syllabus For Law Courses Biggest Tragedy, They Don’t Know What Is Happening Beyond Litigation: Justice Muhamed Mustaque

Speaking at the launch of a mentoring initiative ‘Juris Trailblazers’, Justice Muhamed Mustaque of the Kerala High Court on Sunday said it is the "biggest tragedy" that Bar Council members are "dictating" syllabus for the law colleges.

“Who is dictating our syllabus? The bar council members. This is the biggest tragedy we are facing in India. The miniscule people who get elected through an election, decide about legal education. They are only litigation professionals, their domain knowledge is only concerned with litigation and they dictate the syllabus. This is the biggest challenge we face in India. They don’t have an idea of what is happening beyond litigation. No College has autonomy to decide on their curriculum. If they don’t follow the curriculum dictated by the Bar Council, necessarily they will face some penal action and their course will not be recognised.” Justice Mustaque said.

Justice Mustaque on Sunday launched the mentoring initiative ‘Juris Trailblazers’, a platform aimed at helping law students navigate career opportunities and enhance skill development. The idea has been conceived by Giri Sankar, a retired professor of GLC Ernakulam.

Calling the initiative the ‘need of the time’, Justice Mustaque in his inaugural address deliberated on the idea of how the younger generation can be mentored in a fast-changing world.

“In such a situation, the only way for us to guide you is having constant engagement. We need to have proper communication with you. A platform like this will bridge that gap in creating ideas and to guide you,” the judge said.

The job of a mentor is to help youngsters adapt to changing times, Justice Mustaque explained, adding, “with globalisation, the legal profession underwent a sea change and now with the advent of technology it has been brought to another level. In terms of mentoring, we need to understand how the world is being shaped, what are the changes taking place across the globe? If you’re not able to respond to such changes, that is the failure on our part as mentors.”

The mentoring group ‘Juris Trailblazers’ aims to guide law students by providing a wide range of opportunities. The objectives include developing essential skills, aiding in career decisions, and fostering connections with influential individuals. They strive to strengthen fundamentals in chosen fields of law, and promote legal research and writing skills. Additionally, the group aims to facilitate networking opportunities and empower students to contribute to their growth. They aim to promote opportunities of acquaintance and association with institutions and eminent people in the field of law. The mentoring group seeks to go beyond traditional boundaries and create a valuable platform for law students' development.