Dissent over admissions

MUMBAI, July 24: In a significant voice of dissent from within the Bar Council of India BCI, the BCI's Maharashtra representative has o...

MUMBAI, July 24: In a significant voice of dissent from within the Bar Council of India BCI, the BCI8217;s Maharashtra representative has objected to the restrictive8217; nature of conditions imposed by the BCI on LLB admissions from this academic year.

The BCI had informed registrars of all universities and principals of law colleges to hold an entrance test before granting admission to first year LLB. In case the test is not held, the student should have at least 45 per cent marks in the preceding qualifying exam, which is either standard 12 or a graduation exam. The condition aims to enhance the standards of those aspiring to enter the legal profession. The resolution was drafted in 1996, but implemented from this academic year.

The BCI8217;s Maharashtra representative, Dilip Babasaheb Bhonsale, a practising advocate, has been former chairperson of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. In a letter to the BCI, he has stated that the conditions imposed on the entrance to LLB course are unfair to many categories ofstudents. For instance, it is unfair to those who want to pursue the course, but do not want to adopt law as a profession. Such students either want a degree to their credit or merely want to gain legal knowledge. Some LLB students want to use the degree to better their prospects in their individual professions. Therefore, the condition of 45 per cent marks in the preceding qualifying exam is an unnecessary deterrent in their way, Bhonsale stated.

Suggesting alternatives to the imposition of merit-based admissions, Bhonsale stated that the Bar Council should impose restrictions on students when granting sanads. The council can decide to grant degrees to only those students who have secured a decent percentage in the last year of LLB. This would ensure the entry of a creamy layer of students to the legal profession, he stated.

Bhonsale8217;s suggestion is to be taken up in the next meeting of the BCI, which has not been scheduled. Thus even if the condition imposed by BCI is relaxed, law colleges will have tofollow the resolution for the present academic year.