Learn Law from us, but don't ever practice in courts: MG University's strange rule

Law students above 30 years from the evening batch of 3-year LLB course in the School of Legal Thought of MG University, Kottayam were in for a rude shock when the University directed them not to practice anywhere in India after completing the course. The students were also asked to submit in writing that they would not practice in any court in India to continue the course. The University also clarified that it would not be responsible if the recognition of the course got cancelled in future! 

The students have started an agitation against the arbitrary imposition of the strange rule. As many as 21 students were removed from the rolls as they did not comply with the demand for filing the affidavit stating that they would not practice law after the course, the students said. 

The University had not set these norms during admissions for the 3-year course recognised by the Bar Council of India. The prospectus also did not mention these norms. As many as 25 out of 46 students who got admission for the course were above 30 years old. The course got delayed for over two months even after the admission procedures were over. The students approached the High Court and received a favourable order directing the School of Legal Thought to begin the course without delay. It was at this juncture that the University came up with the strange order, the students point out. 

The University argues that the restrictions regarding the age bar were imposed as per the norms of the Bar Council. "All the decisions regarding the norms were taken by the University Syndicate," Babu Sebastian, MG University Vice Chancellor explained. 

The agitating students argue that the High Court had frozen the age-restriction set by the Bar Council and hence it was not binding. The law students are planning to intensify the stir until the University scrapped the order. 
 

• LLB
• Law
• MG University
• Student agitation
• Bar Council of India