The Chief Justice of India Justice S.H. Kapadia, who as a Chancellor heads the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), wants to make changes to the NLSIU Act to incorporate a new role for himself..The Chief Justice of India Justice S.H. Kapadia, who as a Chancellor heads the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), wants to make changes to the NLSIU Act to incorporate a new role for himself..Speaking to Bar & Bench, Prof. Venkata Rao, Vice Chancellor (pictured) of NLSIU said, “The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India wants the nomenclature to be changed again to a ‘Visitor’. It is interesting to note that earlier it was a ‘Visitor’ and when Dr. Mohan Gopal was the Vice Chancellor of NLSIU, the nomenclature was changed and a ‘Visitor’ was called a ‘Chancellor’. It has been the fortune of the National Law School to receive best guidance from the prospective Chief Justice of India and the law school is, what it is today because of the guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Justice as well as the puisne judges of the Supreme Court, some of who are Members of the General Council”..He further added on to say, “This time also it has been our privilege to have interacted with the Hon’ble Chief Justice and he has ensured us that he will associate himself with the National Law School and that he will come to the law school and take class with the students on subjects like Taxation law which is his domain. Therefore, I feel by changing the nomenclature to a ‘Visitor’, the quality guidance we have been receiving from the Hon’ble Chief Justice will not change at all. Only thing is, for the other administrative functions if the rule of the office does not allow the Hon’ble Chief Justice to bestow attention, then there will be a leeway and his nominee would be looking after the administrative functions. There is a provision in the Act that says that the Chief Justice of India can nominate, but I don’t see much change. We always look forward to receiving guidance from the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India”..The power to amend the NLSIU Act rests with the Karnataka legislators. The amendments by the Chief Justice were approved by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at a State Cabinet meeting..As a Chancellor the CJI has to perform and undertake a number of multi-facted-duties. The CJI’s office has thus stated the State Government to change the nomenclature from that of a ‘Chancellor’ to a ‘Visitor’ in order to bring down the pressure on the CJI..In 2004, the law school had dropped the title of ‘Visitor’ and redesignated it as ‘Chancellor’ to be on par with the other universities in the country. Also in 2004, the title of Director was changed to that of Vice-Chancellor..The Times of India reported that the CJI has communicated to the State Government, to request for an amendment to the 24 year old NLSIU Act to change the nomenclature of ‘Chancellor’ to ‘Visitor’. The CJI also wants a new provision in the Act to allow him to nominate a sitting judge of the Supreme Court as Visitor of the law school whenever necessary. Once the amendment is through, it will be for the first time that a sitting judge of SC, who is not the CJI, could hold the top post at the law school.
The Chief Justice of India Justice S.H. Kapadia, who as a Chancellor heads the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), wants to make changes to the NLSIU Act to incorporate a new role for himself..The Chief Justice of India Justice S.H. Kapadia, who as a Chancellor heads the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), wants to make changes to the NLSIU Act to incorporate a new role for himself..Speaking to Bar & Bench, Prof. Venkata Rao, Vice Chancellor (pictured) of NLSIU said, “The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India wants the nomenclature to be changed again to a ‘Visitor’. It is interesting to note that earlier it was a ‘Visitor’ and when Dr. Mohan Gopal was the Vice Chancellor of NLSIU, the nomenclature was changed and a ‘Visitor’ was called a ‘Chancellor’. It has been the fortune of the National Law School to receive best guidance from the prospective Chief Justice of India and the law school is, what it is today because of the guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Justice as well as the puisne judges of the Supreme Court, some of who are Members of the General Council”..He further added on to say, “This time also it has been our privilege to have interacted with the Hon’ble Chief Justice and he has ensured us that he will associate himself with the National Law School and that he will come to the law school and take class with the students on subjects like Taxation law which is his domain. Therefore, I feel by changing the nomenclature to a ‘Visitor’, the quality guidance we have been receiving from the Hon’ble Chief Justice will not change at all. Only thing is, for the other administrative functions if the rule of the office does not allow the Hon’ble Chief Justice to bestow attention, then there will be a leeway and his nominee would be looking after the administrative functions. There is a provision in the Act that says that the Chief Justice of India can nominate, but I don’t see much change. We always look forward to receiving guidance from the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India”..The power to amend the NLSIU Act rests with the Karnataka legislators. The amendments by the Chief Justice were approved by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at a State Cabinet meeting..As a Chancellor the CJI has to perform and undertake a number of multi-facted-duties. The CJI’s office has thus stated the State Government to change the nomenclature from that of a ‘Chancellor’ to a ‘Visitor’ in order to bring down the pressure on the CJI..In 2004, the law school had dropped the title of ‘Visitor’ and redesignated it as ‘Chancellor’ to be on par with the other universities in the country. Also in 2004, the title of Director was changed to that of Vice-Chancellor..The Times of India reported that the CJI has communicated to the State Government, to request for an amendment to the 24 year old NLSIU Act to change the nomenclature of ‘Chancellor’ to ‘Visitor’. The CJI also wants a new provision in the Act to allow him to nominate a sitting judge of the Supreme Court as Visitor of the law school whenever necessary. Once the amendment is through, it will be for the first time that a sitting judge of SC, who is not the CJI, could hold the top post at the law school.