The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking to allow a 3-year law degree course after Class 12.
The petitioner withdrew his plea after a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala expressed disinclination to entertain the matter. At the outset, the CJI commented that later someone might ask, why have a three-year course at all and allow practice of law right after high school.
Appearing for the petition Ashwini Upadhyay, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh contended that the 5-year duration for the LL.B course after school affects girl students. Countering the counsel’s submission, the Chief Justice said that more than 50 percent of students who are entering law school are girls and that 70 percent of district judiciary now are also girls.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh further submitted that the course duration affected poor children. Mentioning that in the United Kingdom the law degree is now having a duration of 3 years, the Senior Advocate requested that the Bar Council of India be asked to consider the petition as a representation.
Nonetheless, the Chief Justice reiterated the disinclination to entertain the matter. He remarked that according to him, even 5 years is too less. He pointed out that they need mature people coming into the profession. He also noted that the 5-year course has been very beneficial.
The Senior Advocate also requested that the petition be allowed to be withdrawn with liberty to approach the Bar Council. The Court, however, did not grant such liberty and just allowed the withdrawal of the petition.
The plea contended that the 5-year duration for the LL.B course is unreasonable and irrational. It sought direction to the Centre and Bar Council of India to form an Expert Committee to ascertain the feasibility of starting a 3-Year Bachelor of Law course after 12th Standard like Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Art courses.
The petitioner contended that the students can easily study 15-20 subjects in 3 years, which means 6 semesters. Hence, the present duration of 5 years, that is 10 semesters for Bachelor of Law Course is unreasonable. He argued that the inordinate duration is arbitrary and irrational and hence violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.