Legal News: BCI restricted the age Limit and State Decides against the Age Limit of Law College admissions

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BCI restricted the age Limit and State Decides against the Age Limit of Law College admissions:

Many admitted to law colleges may not be able to register for practice after many starts and stops in admission process of law colleges. Above the prescribed age, registration for practice will not be given to the Law graduates BCI decided, As the state government decided not to impose any age limit restriction on this year admissions. Following a series of confusion over the age restriction on admission, the state on Thursday decided against an age limit as is the case with all-India Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).

Confusion over the age limit of law aspirants has continued since 2008 when BCI introduced clause 28 in the rules framed under the Advocates act, 1961.According to the clause course for five years will have Fixed upper age limit is 20yrs (22yrs SC/ST) and For Three years course its 30yrs (35yrs SC/ST) .The Law was later challenged in 2011 and Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed it.

However, BCI too withdrew the clause in 2013 through a notification. Fresh confusion erupted contradicting the judgments were passed in the Madras and the Bombay High Courts. As the BCI went to the Supreme Court but the validity of the clause is still unclear.

“This year admission will be in accordance with CLAT State Government has decided, Moreover, our brochures for admission had not specified any age limit and our aspirants had applied accordingly. Since the common test is over and the merit list is declared, we have decided not to impose the age limit for this year, ”said Sitaram Kunte, Principal Secretary, Higher education department.

Kunte also said that the government will propose to BCI to reconsider the age restriction, for this year’s batch.”As the admission process is underway we will urge the BCI to exempt the age restriction, this year’s batch. An informed decision can be taken later in the next year onward batches after the complexity of clause 28 of Rule 11 of the Standards of the legal education (Rules) is resolved”.

The letter issued to law colleges to inform the restriction of age limits by BCI this decision clear the dilemma of law colleges. The BCI , However kept its promise. The apex body of legal education across the country earlier had said the state could admit the student irrespective of age, the BCI would not allow anyone above the prescribed age limits to practice as a lawyer 20 for five year course and 30 for three year course to practice as a lawyer.”We will not allow anyone above prescribed age limit to enrol with BCI for practice. They can however take admission to gain Knowledge” said a standing committee member of BCI.

The Fate of law aspirants had been in danger ever since BCI claimed the law was valid except the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling quashed it.

 

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