As per the results of the AIBE (All
India Bar Examination) conducted in January 2012, the pass percentage of the
candidates are reflecting the poor condition of the legal education in few
states. The pass percentage of the three most backward states in legal
education are as follows.
1. Chhattisgarh
(39.53%).
2. Andhra Pradesh
(41.38%)
3. Gujarat (45.7 %,)
came third from the bottom.
This is due to the mushrooming of
Law Colleges, no bar at the entry level, inadequate number of law teachers and
outdated curriculum and teaching methods. In the exam held in January 2011,
Gujarat was second last among rest of the states with a pass percentage of 40%. There are lot many colleges in theses states.
In most of these colleges even attendance is not compulsory. As for exams, more
or less the same questions are repeated every year and so students just mug up
some of these questions. AIBE (All India
Bar Examination) is entirely a different ball game for them as it thoroughly
tests the legal knowledge of a student. Most of the students from these states
are used to an examination system that does not challenge their knowledge; they
find the AIBE exams a tough call. As in the three-and-half hour exam, a
candidate needs to score a minimum of 45 marks out of 100 to clear it.
The Bar Council of India should
take it very seriously and must take serious measures to upgrade the standards
of legal education especially in those states which are backward in legal
education. The concerned Govts should also take it very seriously and provide
basic supports to the colleges which are lacking the basic infrastructure facilities,
like library, faculty, modern class rooms, moot court facilities, computers,
internet, online journal etc.
As per the current BCI norms of
Part IV of the Rules of Legal Education and Inspection Manual December, 2010, now
opening a new law college is very very difficult. Because the startup law
colleges are required to full fill the new norms which are benchmarked with
global standards. That is really something great done by the BCI. We must be
thankful to all the members of the “Legal Education Committee” of the Bar
council of India and specially Prof. N.L. Mitra for this great job.
However the question is that
how the BCI will upgrade the said poor law colleges which do not satisfy the
current BCI norms and still enjoys the BCI accreditation and approval. Now they
have to seriously think about these colleges and find out effective measure to
regulate them. BCI should ask them either to satisfy the new norms or shut
down. Then only we will be able to upgrade the standards of legal education in
India in the real sense and can face the challenges of Globalization and satisfy
the obligation to allow the opening of our legal service market for the member countries
of WTO.
