New Delhi, September 11: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal wants to reform legal education and bring in a “new vision” to keep up with the changing times. “Why not a BA in law so that one can go on to pursue medicine, engineering or bio-sciences?” he said.
Incidentally, the Bar Council of India (BCI) – the statutory body that regulates law education – strongly opposes the ministry’s ‘interference’. But on Thursday, Sibal said: “The BCI’s role is limited to the law colleges, but legal education is not limited to law colleges. We don’t intend to interfere in their disciplinary proceedings.” The HRD ministry’s round table on legal education had met last week. BCI chairperson, SNP Sinha, however, chose to skip the meeting.
An official BCI statement read, “The Bar Council is fully competent to formulate policies regarding legal education in the changing times.” Sibal also visited the Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday and said he had received “open support” from the members. “The BCI is not able to bring in reforms because it does not have adequate infrastructure. They should go along with us, their expertise is needed.” Stressing the importance of law in every social activity, the minister said law should be included in every discipline. Law students should be taught about the World Trade Organisation and trade disputes.
Deepak Pental, the vice-chancellor of Delhi University that offers LLB degree, said: “The law syllabus needs to keep up with the times.” Sibal also claimed to have achieved all the targets the ministry had set out under its 100-day agenda. He said the ministry had circulated a draft cabinet note for creation of National Commission for Higher Education and Research.
A bill has also been prepared for entry of foreign education providers in the country.
–Agencies