Responding to a PIL in Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Bar Council of India (BCI) to consider introducing the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 in law curriculum as a mandatory subject, BCI said that it will consider including the RTE Act, 2009 in the course within "reasonable time".
The Bar Council of India informed the Delhi High Court that it would consider including the Right to Education Act as a compulsory subject in law colleges within a reasonable time. BCI was responding to a PIL in the high court for considering the inclusion of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 in the law curriculum as a mandatory subject.
As per the petition filed by the NGO called Social Jurist, the RTE Act, 2009 is a crucial child right that can only be implemented in its true letter and spirit only if it is taught as a compulsory subject in the law curriculum rather than just being a part of a subject.
Delhi High Court's Proceedings Details
"A request to incorporate the RTE Act in the law curriculum was made to the Council last month and the authority should be requested to deliberate on the matter," said the petitioner's attorney.
BCI said in a statement that the organisation would investigate the complaint in a timely manner, as reported by India Today.
During the hearing, the bench, which also included Justice Subramonium Prasad, commented that the petitioner should have given the Council some "breathing time" to select its representation before bringing the lawsuit.
"RTE Act, 2009, was enacted by the Indian parliament in terms of Art 21-A of the Constitution of India that guarantees free and compulsory education to all children in the age of 6-14 years in such manner as the state may, by law, determine. Both Art 21-A of the Constitution and RTE Act, 2009 came into force wef 01.04.2010," the plea alleged.
"Though a period of over 12 years has elapsed, hardly anyone among law students, lawyers and judges are aware of it. We have found that RTE Act, 2009 has not so far been introduced in the curriculum of law students in law colleges and universities," it stated.
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