5-year LLB programme not workable, court told

LAHORE

A commission on legal education and law colleges on Friday informed the Lahore High Court that 5-year degree programme of Bachelor in Legislative Law (LLB) was a poor programme and dangerous for the future of coming generations.

The commission headed by Anwar Kamal submitted 18-page report before a three-member full bench of the Lahore High Court. The commission in its report claimed that five-year LLB programme seemed result of non-cooperation of various educational institutions and public administrative departments.

The full bench was hearing a number of petitions against five-year LLB degree programme, age and grade restrictions for admission in the programme.

In its report, the commission stated that there was not even a single subject related to legal education in initial two years of five-year programmes.

The commission inspected 18 law colleges in different parts of Punjab and said that environment and standard of law colleges needed to be improved.

The commission said the newly-introduced programme was spoiling future of law students and was not workable. A petitioner-lawyer told the court that those students who had crossed age of 26 years and had third division in their final degree were barred from getting admission in legal education. The petitioner said Punjab University had imposed these restrictions which were against the law and fundamental rights of the citizens.

Advocate Malik Awais Khalid, the legal adviser of Punjab University, opposed the petition saying that the varsity had abandoned affiliation of those law colleges which were not fulfilling the terms and conditions mandatory for them.

After hearing both sides, the full bench directed the public varsities to device affiliation policy for law colleges and sought report.

The bench also directed the law colleges to improve their standards and environment for legal education. Hearing adjourned for further arguments.