Student claims univ’s law course is outdated

Yogita Rao TNN 

Mumbai: University of Mumbai’s inability to respond to an RTI query has put a question mark on the course content being taught in city colleges. 
    An RTI filed by Hussain Ali Chandrani, a law student from a city college, was directed to colleges by the university. Chandrani asked the university to give him information on whether the 2008 Bar Council of India (BCI) guidelines on the course structure, faculty and student strength, curriculum and upgradation of syllabus were being followed. Later, Chandrani appealed to the authorities over non-submission of required information. 
    “Issues of adopting the guidelines for revised course prescribed by the BCI are within the purview of the Board of Studies and the Faculty of Law of the university and not the colleges.” On further appeal, he was told that a threemember committee was set up by the university to discuss the issues arising out of the BCI guidelines. 
    “This shows the university’s inability to update their syllabus for several years. The BCI has prescribed a more practical syllabus and has also structured the course well so that students get maximum benefit,” he said. 
    However, a BoS member claimed that adopting BCI norms is not possible. “Aided law colleges are already running into losses. They do not have enough teachers for existing programmes. Law colleges are also dependent on the visiting faculty, who are not available after 10.30am as they practice in court,” the member said. 
    “Colleges are worried about the unaided subjects for which they will need additional faculty,” she added.


Source:::: The Times of India, 28-09-2012, p.10.  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW