BCI tells law schools to promote students

PRAYAGRAJ: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has asked universities to promote all law students, except those in the final year, on the basis of their previous year’s marks and performance in the internal examination this year. It has said final year students of three-year and five-year law courses may be allowed to appear in online examinations.

BCI, a statutory body that regulates legal practice and education in India, said universities must adopt an alternative strategy for conducting examinations for those students who are unable to take online examinations for any reasons.

In a letter dated June 9 to vicechancellors, registrars, principals, deans and head of departments of educational institutes offering law courses, BCI secretary Srimanto Sen has detailed the guidelines for the promotion of students and the criteria for exams amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

BCI has directed universities to conduct end semester examinations within a month of reopening of the colleges while asking them to adhere to Covid-19 protocols, such as social distancing.

Prof Rajendra Singh University (Prayagraj) vice-chancellor Sangita Srivastava called BCI’s move a wise decision keeping in mind the Covid-19 threat. “We will hold an e-meeting with heads of our various affiliated colleges that offer law courses and discuss BCI guidelines and the way we can implement it...”

Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (Prayagraj) vice-chancellor KN Singh said automatic promotion is not a good idea as examinations are not just assessment of a student’s knowledge and academic brilliance.