Legal fraternity relieved as SC stays agelimit rule for law admissions

The legal fraternity has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, on Friday, to stay a notification reviving the age-limit rule for law admissions, issued by Bar Council of India.

The decision, by a bench comprising Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao, allowed admission of aspirants in law colleges regardless of their age. The judges said the admission of petitioners — who are law aspirants — won’t hinge on the final outcome of the case.

Two days earlier, BCI, as an interim measure, had decided to increase the upper age limit for five-year law course from 20 to 22, and for three-year LLB from 30 to 45, after the SC criticised the agelimit rule. Unsatisfied by the BCI move, the court decided to do away with the controversial rule.

Yasmin Tavaria, a part-time teacher at Government Law College, Churchgate and an advocate at Bombay HC, who has also filed a petition challenging the agelimit in HC, said, “The court has made it clear that the admissions won't be subjected to the final outcome of the matter. It’s a good move, as there won't be a sword hanging over students’ heads once they enter a college.”

Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of BCI’S legal education committee, confirmed that the aspirants will enter college without the fear of their admission being revoked later. “We will abide by the court’s order,” he said.

The students are relieved by the court’s verdict. “There shouldn’t be any age limit because learning never stops and law programme is useful in life, said Ashutosh Paibhale, a student who was admitted to GLC last year, despite being over 30. “The judgement will help the financially weaker section decide to pursue law later in their lives,” adds Sachin Pawar president