PIL against age bar in legal studies

There may still be some hope for those in their 30s who want to enrol for law this year. The newly introduced age bar on admissions to law Colleges being challenged. Terming the new rule brought in by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to prevent the 30-plus from joining a three-year LLB degree course as an unjustifiable restriction and violation of the basic fundamental rights to education and profession, a Mumbai-based lawyer has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Bombay high court to have it quashed before the 2009-10 academic year began. The BCI, the apex lawyers' body in India, is empowered to deal with issues governing admission to law colleges. "The very upholders of law and legal rights are now grossly violating a citizen's fundamental rights,'' the PIL said. The Petitioner pointed out that the old rules contemplated even the setting up of a correspondence course in law studies to widen the student base. The old regulations "expected'' that "universities and colleges in the country will continue to impart liberal education in law and expand it to large sections of people by conducting correspondence programmes if necessary''.

THE AGE ISSUE:

* Those over 20 years of age are barred from the five-year integrated law degree which one joins after the HSC exam (22 years in case of SC/ST)

* Those over 30 years are barred from the three-year LLB degree course that one can join after completing a bachelor's degree in any faculty (35 yrs in case of SC/ST)

* There is no age bar abroad for legal studies

"Published in TOI"

Update on said PIL:-

This PIL is in Pre-Admission stage. The Last Date for this PIL was fixed on 26/03/2009 before the Division Bench comprising Hon'ble The Chief Justice & Hon'ble Shri Justice Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud of Hon'ble Bombay High Court.