The Bar Council of India (BCI) has been directed by the Karnataka High Court to clarify its powers on relaxing rules and if it could be exercised to allow Law Universities to issue alternative guidelines, to dispense the mandatory regulations for all final year students of Five Year Law Course, to engage themselves in moot courts, internships, pre-trial preparation etc, for the academic year 2019-20.
A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice M Nagprasanna:
“Today Bar council members may have taken this decision but tomorrow we may not know what will happen. So we have to secure the future of the students.Suppose a student wants to pursue education in a foreign University after completion of course and if the degree is not recognised at a later stage, it will affect their career.”
After the University of Law College, Bangalore submissions the observation followed, that as per the guidelines issued by UGC the University has adopted alternative guidelines with regard to requirements under 24 (b) and (c) only for academic year, 2019-2020 which is in accordance to the press note issued by the Bar Council of India on June 9.
In a petition for Internships and Moot courts was filed by two law students, Gautham R and Krishnamurthy T K, students of University law college, Bangalore pursuing 5 years integrated BA LLB course, the directions were given.
Schedule II of Part IV of the Bar Council of India Rules was outlined where the academic standards and courses a legal institution needs to impart in the course of legal education. “Compulsory Clinical Courses”must be conducted by the respective Universities/Institutions as provided in Part II (B) under Entry 6 of Schedule II of the Rules of Legal Education (Part IV of Bar Council of India Rules), Paper 24 under the said Entry 6 relates to “Moot Court Exercise and Internship” as:
Moot court exercise and Internship: This paper may have three components of 30 marks each and a viva for: 10 marks.
- Moot Court (30 Marks)
Every student may be required to do at least three moot courts in a year with 10 marks for each. The moot court work will be on assigned problems and it will be evaluated for 5 marks for written submissions and 5 marks for oral advocacy.
- Observance of Trial in two cases, one Civil and one Criminal (30 marks)
Students may be required to attend two trials in the course of the last two or three years of LLB. Studies. They will maintain a record and enter the various steps observed during their attendance on different days in the court assignment. This scheme will carry 30 marks. - Interviewing techniques and Pre-trial preparations and Internship diary (30 marks)
Each student will observe two interviewing sessions of clients at the Lawyer’s Office/ Legal Aid Office and record the proceedings in a diary, which will carry 15 marks. Each student will further observe the preparation of documents and court papers by the Advocate and the procedure for the filing of the suit/petition. This will be recorded in the diary, which will carry 15 marks for internships.
The High Court has laid down certain Standard Operating Procedures for the regular functioning and operation of the Courts wherein it has been stated that the entry of Advocates’ clerks, litigants as well as any other third parties have been strictly prohibited into the premises of the courts on account of the impending COVID-19 pandemic.
The contention was raised that it would be impossible for the students of final year of law in such circumstances, to enter the court premises for internships and observe the court proceedings or to observe interviewing sessions of clients at a Lawyer’s Office/Legal Aid Office for the purpose of completion of the course.
The petitioners noted that, the Law Chambers/Firms of Advocates are adamant keeping in mind the principles of social distancing in not encouraging students from law schools to intern at their offices for internships. The indifference and apathy at the hands of the respondents is likely to vex the mobility of the students in masses.
The prayer to dispense clause (b) and (c) of Paper 24 under Schedule II of Part IV of Bar Council of India Rules (“Rules of Legal Education”) for the academic year 2019-2020 has been asked by the respondents.
