Part Time legal education relegates the discipline to ‘Second-Hand Status: Delhi HC

Highlighting the significance of “professionalism” in legal education system in the country, Delhi Court stated that the concept of part time law courses robs the profession of its due worth and imparts a ‘second-hand status’.

As per the  PTI report, candidates who had cleared entrance exam to Delhi University’s Law course had appealed against the change in timings of two Law centres run by the varsity. The change was brought about at Bar Council of India’s notification, effective this year. They approached the court seeking a stay on the counselling process slated to begin from August 26, as they feared that a change would be unlikely once they opt for either of the two centres which used to hold evening classes earlier. The petitioners contended that they were affected by the change as most of them were government servants and persons working in the private sector. As per the report, the Court refused to pass an interim order putting on hold the counselling process and stated “let them enjoy their present jobs”.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked while seeking the response of the Centre, Delhi University and Bar Council of India on the plea, remarked, "This whole concept of part-time course is a problem. Why is law a second hand job? Why not a primary one like medicine,” He wondered why legal education is not dealt with the level of seriousness attached to medical.