S.N. Singh vs University of Delhi and Others

Sanjiv Khanna, J.—The Petitioner S.N. Singh who is a Professor in the Faculty of Law University of Delhi, New Delhi had filed the present petition in 2006 for the following reliefs:

a) To direct the Respondent No. 1 to bring its Ordinances in conformity with the Bar Council of India Rules regarding courses of studies prescribed for LL.B. three-year Degree course;

b) To direct the Respondent No. 1 to teach the course of studies prescribed by the Bar Council of India with effect from the academic year 2006-2007 starting with LL.B. First year students followed by second and third year students during the academic year 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, respectively;

c) To direct Respondent No. 1 to teach the same syllabus and hold one common examination for all the students of LL.B. studying at all the three Law Centres with effect from the academic year 2006-2007;

d) To direct Respondent No. 1 to arrange for teaching at least three hours per week per subject as prescribed by the Bar Council of India Rules;

e) To restrain Respondent No. 1 from admitting more students than the number prescribed by the Respondent No. 2.

f) To direct the Bar Council of India to ensure that the Respondent University does not violate the Bar Council of India Rules having statutory force and intended to improve the standards of legal education.

g) To direct the Respondent No. 1 - University of Delhi and Respondent No. 3-the University Grants Commission - to take steps and provide such funds as may be required by the Respondent University for provision of a separate building to Law Centre II at South Delhi Campus.

Initially while issuing notice, it was noticed that the primary issue raised in the writ petition is regarding the syllabus and the course of studies being taught in the Faculty of Law. It was stated that the same was required to be updated and should be in consonance with the course study prescribed by the Bar Council of India. During the last nearly five years substantial changes have taken place in the course material and syllabus.

Order sheets reveal that subsequently the main issue that has been examined is with regard to the construction of a building for the law centres. The Faculty of Law, University of Delhi has three law centres, one located in North Campus, the other located at Mandir Marg and the third located at Dhaula Kuan. Taking note of the problems, a number of orders have been passed by this Court. Reference can be made to the orders dated 10th October, 2007, 18th December, 2007, 25th March, 2008 and 31st March, 2008.

A developed plot admeasuring 12.7 acres at Dhaka Complex near Mukherjee Nagar has been made available for construction of a new building for the Faculty of Law. The said complex will be equipped with up to date and latest facilities for housing all the three centres, namely, the Campus Law Centre, Law Centre-I and Law Centre-II.

Copy of the status report dated 8th February, 2011 has been handed over to us in Court. The status report gives details of the progress made with regard to construction of the building for the Faculty of Law at Dhaka Complex. Building plans have been finalized by the Dean, Faculty of Law and the cost of construction has been estimated. The estimates have been sent to University Grants Commission for allocation of funds. Along with the status report, copy of the various minutes in which the said aspects were deliberated upon, has been enclosed.

In view of the aforesaid developments, we are inclined to dispose of the present public interest writ petition with the direction to the Respondents including University Grants Commission to expedite the whole process and ensure that the entire project is completed within next two years. We also note that the syllabus and the course structure require periodical up gradation and changes. We hope and trust that the Dean and other persons incharge of the course material in the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi are conscious and are working in the said direction. It is open to the Petitioner to send and make his recommendation in this regard.

With the aforesaid observations, we dispose of the present writ petition.