In a major step towards promotion and expansion of legal education in the country, the Union law and justice ministry is preparing a proposal to establish 14 more national law universities in the country.
The national law universities will be established as schools of excellence in all states of the country. There are 14 existing national law universities in the country.
Official sources state that the attempt on the part of the government was to expand legal education in the country and promote research in the field. The plan is a brain child of Union law and justice minister M. Veerappa Moily and aims to promote legal education in the country. The move is also being viewed as an effort to move the reform process in legal education sector forward.
Official sources stated that the establishment of a National Law University in each state will fulfil the needs and aspirations of local population for quality legal education and professionals. Once the proposal is cleared by the Cabinet, it will be sent to various states to seek suitable land for the establishment of these new national law universities in their respective states.
The step follows the ministry’s proposal to establish four regional centres of excellence for advanced legal studies and research as reported by this paper last week. The government has prepared the Centres for Advanced Legal Studies and Research Bill, 2010, for the establishment of these centres and it is soon likely to be presented before the Cabinet for its approval.
The centres would also assist in the promotion of excellence in academics as well as legal education in India and the continuous process of legal education for the faculty.
The faculty will be provided with refresher courses on all aspects of higher education and research in the field of law.