Delhi HC to CLAT Consortium and BCI: Conduct CLAT 2024 in regional languages too; Read here

In a response to PIL filed in Delhi HC for conduct of CLAT 2024 in additional languages other than English, the court has issued notice to the Consortium of NLUs and the Bar Council of India. Read full story here. 

The Delhi High Court on March 15, 2023, has issued a notice to the exam authority for CLAT 2024, the Consortium of National Law Universities, and the legal education regulatory, Bar Council of India. This notice was in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sudhanshu Pathak, studying Law at Delhi University, stating that, "In a hyper-competitive paper, they are linguistically disempowered as they have to surpass the additional hurdle of learning and mastering a new language. Naturally, aspirants belonging to English-medium schools have an advantage over their peers belonging to schools operating in Hindi or other vernacular Languages". 

CLAT is conducted in English Language only, therefore, the PIL stated it discriminates with Law aspirants who have studied in their regional Languages throughout their life, with little emphasis on English subject. The PIL also specified that conducting CLAT 2024 in just English Language also supports arbitrariness, which is voilative of Article 14 and Article 29 (clause 2) of Constitution of India. Therefore, Delhi HC bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad, has asked the authorities inclduing CLAT Consortium, BCI and Ministry of Education to respond the PIL within next 4 weeks. 

The PIL also cited that, "the new Education Policy of 2020 and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 require mother tongue to be the medium of instruction in schools and higher education institutions and it is unfortunate that English as the only medium of CLAT-(UG) is depriving a huge portion of the students, who have studied in their regional or native languages, from opting for the law (5 years LLB).   

BCI already conducts the All India Bar Examination in 22 vernacular languages (w.e.f from AIBE XVII session) in addition to English Language. Moreover, law students are provided option to attempt university examinations (private and state universities) in Hindi, English or their regional language. 

No indication of AILET being held in just English language too, was found in the PIL. However, AILET is conducted only for the National Law University, Delhi, and CLAT is conducted for 23 participating NLUs. Moreover, CLAT scores are also accepted by private law colleges allover India. Therefore, law aspirants (with English as an optional subject) are looking forward to the proposed modification in CLAT 2024 question paper.

The final decision on CLAT 2024 in regional languages will be out once the authorities submit a response on next date for hearing of "SUDHANSHU PATHAK v. CONSORTIUM OF NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITIES THROUGH SECRETARY & ORS"

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