Remove unapproved law colleges from portals, varsities told

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Tuesday orally instructed the universities concerned to remove from their portals for admissions the names of eight law colleges that are not approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
The law colleges moved the HC last week asking that universities be restrained from allotting them students as part of the admissions process.They submitted that as the BCI has not approved them, their students, despite getting law degrees, will be ineligible to practice law. They urged the HC’s indulgence to resolve the issue.
While the hearing on the issue continues, the HC asked the universities to first delete the names of MS Bhagat and CS Sonawala Law College, Kheda; Sheth Dosabhai Lalchand Law College, Kutch; MSK Law College and MN Law College in Patan; Godhra Law College; Junagadh Law College; KP Shah Law College, Junagadh and HJ Law College in Bhavnagar from the portals of the universities concerned. This would end confusion among students, and they can opt for a proper college for law degrees. The judge said the names of these colleges must not be reflected on the portals or else the court may have to grant a stay on the admissions process.
As the requirements in terms of faculty members are not fulfilled at these grant-in-aid colleges, the BCI has not accorded its approval to them. This could result in a reduction of seats for law degrees at subsidized fees. The HC requested the BCI, the Bar Council of Gujarat and the state govt to find a so that these grant-in-aid colleges can function at full strength, or students may be forced to opt for private colleges. Addressing a lawyer involved in the litigation, the judge said, “Your and my children can study in good colleges. What will happen to the others?” The court has posted further hearing on Wednesday.