BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA: Petitioner(s) VERSUS BONNIE FOI LAW COLLEGE & ORS: Respondent(s)
(With appln(s) for exemption from filing O.T., vacating stay, directions and with prayer for interim relief and office report) (FOR FINAL DISPOSAL) Date: 14/12/2009

This Petition was called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DALVEER BHANDARI
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE H.L. DATTU

For Petitioner(s): Mr. Gopal Subramanium, SG, Mr. Anand Varma,Adv. Mr. Sanjeev Sachdeva,Adv., Mr. Nagendra Kasana,Adv.

For Respondent(s): Mr. B.K. Satija,Adv.

UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following ORDER.

We have heard Mr. Gopal Subramanium, learned Solicitor General of India. In pursuance of the directions of this Court, the time frame for implementation of the three-member Committee report has been given to the Court. According to this time frame, preparation of parameters and list of experts for inspection of Law Schools/Colleges would be completed by 31st December, 2009.

Mr. Subramanium also submitted that the Directorate of Legal Education will be operationalized by 31st of December, 2009 and the Directory of Law Schools and Law Colleges will be prepared by 15th January, 2010. He further submitted that the institutions which have not been inspected earlier, would be inspected on or before 31st January, 2010. Mr. Subramanium further submitted that preparation of a detailed database of all law schools and law colleges would be prepared by 31st January, 2010. He also informed the Court that a meeting of the National Legal Knowledge Council has been fixed on 1st February, 2010.

The most significant achievement of this entire exercise has been the introduction of the Bar Examination. Learned Solicitor General submits that the first Bar Examination shall be conducted in July-August, 2010 by a specially constituted independent body, consisting of experts of various disciplines of national stature.

In the facts and circumstances of this case, we deem it appropriate to direct the Central Government to ensure that the entire programme framed by the three-member Committee is operationalized forthwith. We further direct the concerned institutions to fully cooperate with the Bar Council of India. We deem it appropriate to list this matter for further directions on 8th February, 2010 at 2.00 p.m.