Chandigarh (India), August 22: The National Seminar held in Chandigarh, which was conducted by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana on 21st August, 2023, became the locus of an impassioned appeal by Advocate Partap Singh (Member, Bar Council of India), emphasizing the urgent need for reforms in India’s legal education. Drawing from his vast experience and insights, Singh shed light on the crucial role played by the Bar Council of India in shaping the nation’s legal landscape and the need for a synergized effort with the Ministry of Law to uplift the standards of legal education.
“Legal education is the backbone of our judiciary. Its quality, rigor, and relevance dictate the future of law in our country,” Singh remarked. He lauded the efforts of the Bar Council of India under the guidance of its Hon’ble Chairman, Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra Ji, in championing innovations in legal academia and ensuring that every lawyer emerging from our institutions is ethically sound and professionally competent.
However, Singh also pointed out the challenges – the rampant proliferation of sub-standard law colleges, outdated curricula, and a lack of practical exposure for students. He stated, “While the Bar Council has been vigilant, the sheer volume and complexity of the challenges demand greater resources, both in terms of manpower and finances.”
The seminar, attended by Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Hon’ble Judges of the High Court, legal luminaries, scholars, and students, became a platform for Singh to urge the Hon’ble Law Minister of India to extend greater support and resources to the Bar Council. “The Council shoulders the dual responsibility of not only upholding the standards of the profession but also ensuring that the next generation of lawyers is prepared for the evolving challenges of the legal world,” Singh emphasized.
He further proposed the establishment of a joint committee comprising representatives from the Bar Council, Ministry of Law, and legal academicians to collaboratively devise a roadmap for the modernization of legal education in India.
In his concluding remarks, Advocate Partap Singh expressed his vision for an Indian legal education system that’s both globally competitive and locally relevant. He echoed the sentiment, “A strong legal education framework not only produces competent lawyers but also upholds the very fabric of our democracy.”
About Advocate Partap Singh:
A stalwart in the legal community, Mr. Partap Singh has donned many hats – from being a member of the Bar Council of India to the Managing Trustee of IIULER, Goa. His academic credentials include B.Sc, M.A., LLB, and LLM from Kurukshetra University. He has represented Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh in the Bar Council of India as Member since 2019. Singh’s deep-rooted connections with the Kurukshetra Parliamentary area have seen him emerge as a prominent figure, securing the highest votes in the last four Bar Council elections across all associated bar associations. As a visionary, Singh has been pivotal in the establishment of the International Law University “IIULER, Goa” and continues to advocate for advancements in legal education in India.
The State Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, constituted under the Advocates Act of 1961, comprises 25 elected members. These members, chosen through a preferential voting system from Punjab, Haryana, and U.T. Chandigarh, represent enrolled advocates. The Bar Council of India remains the apex body for advocates across the nation.
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