The implementation of UPA-2’s ambitious legal education reforms continues to be delayed even as the Union human resource development ministry has been unable to finalise a comprehensive syllabus for paralegal studies.
Sources stated that despite holding widespread consultations and planning to make paralegal studies a component of vocational education the proposal put forth by HRD minister Kapil Sibal is yet to take off. “Legal education in the country is governed by the Bar Council of India and the law ministry has an advisory role in it. The two have been dragging their feet on the issue forcing a delay in finalisation of the course,” HRD ministry sources added. Though paralegal education does not fall under the BCI, however, it is related to the legal profession and the HRD ministry has sought an active advise of the council before finalising it.
Mr Sibal has already chaired a roundtable on legal education in July 2010, without much success. The roundtable sought popularising paralegal studies and for laying down curriculum framework for this discipline as a vocational stream involving the UGC in the future. The UGC has prepared a draft course for paralegal studies in consultation with the National Law Schools. However, the proposals has faced stiff resistance from the BCI forcing such a long delay.
A popular concept in Western countries, the course for paralegal studies has been proposed to help meet the demands of the growing and corporatised legal profession. “It was felt that many services that are currently being performed by untrained people can be formalised and ethical norms laid down for them. It also has an enormous potential for employment and self-employment,” sources added.