Upadhyay's plea, which aimed to challenge the existing five-year law course structure, faced opposition from the bench, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive understanding of legal education.
In a recent judicial development, the Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seeking directions to establish a 'Legal Education Commission' to evaluate the viability of a four-year LLB course. The bench, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora, expressed its reluctance, emphasizing that it is not within the court's purview to design educational courses.
Upadhyay's plea, which aimed to challenge the existing five-year law course structure, faced opposition from the bench, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive understanding of legal education. The court underscored the contributions of legal luminaries like Ram Jethmalani and Soli Sorabjee, emphasizing their continuous learning beyond formal education.
Moreover, the bench emphasized the evolving nature of legal practice, citing the intersection of law with disciplines such as economics and technology. It rebuffed Upadhyay's assertion that certain subjects like history and economics are irrelevant to legal education, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge in the contemporary legal landscape.
The High Court's decision reflects a broader trend of judicial deference to educational authorities in matters of curriculum design. Despite Upadhyay's efforts to advocate for legal education reform, the court maintained its stance of non-interference in academic matters.
Upadhyay's withdrawal of the PIL marks a setback in his pursuit of legal education reform, following a similar outcome in the Supreme Court earlier this year. With the judiciary refraining from intervening, the fate of legal education reform remains subject to the discretion of educational bodies like the Bar Council of India.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.