Home Legal News [CLAT in local languages] Delhi HC directs BCI to take a call on conducting of CLAT in local languages

[CLAT in local languages] Delhi HC directs BCI to take a call on conducting of CLAT in local languages

by Shreya
clat 2021

Bar Council of India (BCI) has been directed by Delhi HC to consider as representation a petition seeking the conduct of Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), including the one which is yet to take place for 2020, in local languages.

A  Single Judge Bench of Justice Najmi Waziri said that it would be preferable that a decision is taken by the BCI prior to that in a petition filed by a CLAT aspirant and an unregistered forum of parents and students who want CLAT Exam to be conducted in Hindi language.

CLAT justice nazim wazri
Justice Najim Wazri

Also Read: CLAT 2020 postponed again, last date for online applications extended to July 1

The Petitioners were presented by Senior Advocates KK Rai, Ravindra Raizada with Advocates Gauraan Bhardwaj, Ashish Rai. UOI was represented by Advocates PN Shahi, Aakanksha Kaul, Manek Singh. BCI was represented by Advocates Preet Pal Singh, Saurabh Sharma.

The Petitioners argued that CLAT’s objective of providing “highest standards of legal education” and disseminating “learning and knowledge of law and legal processes” could not be accomplished without including local languages for writing the entrance examination, as well for imparting legal education.

The Petitioners contended stating that all students had the equal right to participate in a competitive exam and receive education from the national law universities,

“..giving primacy to English is not only unjust, unfair, improper but it is also in the teeth of Article 343 of the Constitution of India which says that Hindi is the National Language of India.”

The Court observed that since the BCI set the standards for admitting the students into law schools, it should take a call on the cause espoused by the Petitioners.

Accordingly, this petition shall be treated as the petitioner’s representation on which the Bar Council of India shall take a decision within three weeks and convey the same to the petitioner. However, looking at the fact that the forms for such examinations are to be deposited by 30.06.2020, it would be preferable that the Bar Council of India takes a decision prior to that, if such quick decision is feasible.

The Petition was disposed of.

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