Bar & Bench speaks to Dr. Gurjeet Singh (pictured), the Director General of the National Law School & Judicial Academy Assam (NLS & JAA) about his aim for the youngest national law school, initial development plans and future ahead.

Dr. Gurjeet Singh is a double Ph.D holder from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He is a LL.M gold medalist and has completed his MA in Economics and in Public Administration from Guru Nanak Dev University. He has also done an MA in political science and a PG diploma in public relations and advertising from Punjab University, Patiala. Dr. Singh has supervised several Ph. D dissertations and many major research projects. His publications include a book and 75 research papers in leading national and international journals. He has also won the UGC Visiting Associateship Award, UGC Research Award, Catalan Institute of Consumer Affairs Award (Spain) and Henry Dunant Research Fellowship.

What is your vision for the National Law School and Judicial Academy?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: As far as this University is concerned, this will be different from all the other national law schools as it will be clubbed with the Judicial Academy also. Whereas the aim of the other universities is to primarily impart legal education, this university would besides imparting professional legal education, conduct legal research and would lay onus on continuing legal education of judicial officers, public prosecutors and other people who are into the legal services. My vision is to run both the institutions simultaneously, prepare the young generation for entering in the field of law as well as refreshing the  education, awareness and the exposure for the members of the subordinate and district judiciary.

What is the methodology you wish to put in place to achieve these objectives?          

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: Whenever you start an institution you always face infrastructural problems. Once infrastructure is in place my first priority will be to build a world class library. Subsequently I shall focus on e-library and other infrastructure facilities. Currently we have a temporary setup in a small building but very soon we will shift to the new campus. We plan to have advanced and modern infrastructure in the new campus. We will have facilities like conferences, seminars and symposiums, academic interaction of legal luminaries with students, organizing guest lectures and various co-curricular student activities such as debates, moots, quizzes etc. This is how I intend to achieve my goal.

Would the institution come under the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for the process of admissions?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: Likely to join CLAT from next year itself. This year the process got delayed.

How is the support from the Government of Assam?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: Government support is excellent as it is only due to the Government support that the bill was passed. A special mention goes to our Chancellor, Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court Madan B. Lokur whose keen interest in the project enabled us to start early.

Has the new staff been recruited?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: As far as recruitment is concerned we have already advertised in the newspapers and have put up a notice on the website for the post of professors, assistant professors as well as the non-teaching staff. The recruitment process is likely to commence in the next 15 days or so.

Do you plan to associate yourself with the National Judicial Academy?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: Judicial Academy Assam will associate itself and take the guidance of the National Judicial Academy. The National Judicial Academy being the foremost institution in its field in the country, it is imperative that we take guidance from them.

What is your opinion of the domicile reservations of NLS?

Dr.Gurjeet Singh: On the issue of 25 percent state reservation, there is not much to comment. Every state has a right to reservations for the upbringing of its economy. It’s the prerogative of the government.