Prima-facie, CLAT should be conducted in vernacular languages too: BCI constitutes committee to study the issue

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has constituted a Committee to consider the feasibility of conducting the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for law school admissions in vernacular languages as well. .In a response made on June 30 to a representation concerning the same, regulatory body has said, ."The Council being the regulator of Legal Education and Legal Profession, prima facie is of the view that no deserving candidate should be deprived from giving the CLAT on account of his/her inability to be proficient in English. India is a vast country having numerous regional languages.".In view of this, the BCI goes on to opine that,."... prima-facie the exam should be conducted in vernacular languages too. Infact the Bar Council of India conducts All India Bar Examination in 11 languages including English."BCI.The BCI has, therefore, constituted a committee to gauge the views of National Law Universities and other stakeholders on the conduct of CLAT in vernacular languages. .The BCI's statement was issued after the Delhi High Court directed it to consider as a representation a petition seeking the conduct of CLAT in local languages..Conduct CLAT in local languages: Delhi HC directs BCI to consider a petition as representation.The Commitee constituted to study the issue will consist of former and sitting Vice Chancellors of National Law Universities, academicians and two members of the BCI. It will be headed by a former High Court Chief Justice..It is informed that the Committee will also consider whether the CLAT for this year may be rescheduled only for those candidates who wish to write the exam in vernacular languages, if such a conduct of the exam is found feasible. .Moreover, it is noted that the way ahead that is charted out by the Committee on this issue would be presented before the Supreme Court in an appropriate application. A case concerning the conduct of CLAT is presently pending before the top Court. It was moved in the wake of technical glitches marring the conduct of the law entrance exam in 2018. .Apart from the conduct of CLAT in vernacular languages, the BCI has also noted that a related issue that would have be contemplated concerns whether semester exams in law schools can also be conducted in various vernacular languages. In this regard, the press release notes,."It is but obvious, that after clearing CLAT, the next request could be to hold semester exams in regional languages too in National Law Universities. Presently many Universities conduct exams in English and in one i.e. regional language of the State. However, National Law Universities depict a national character, and it cannot be compared to other State Universities, or Private Universities, and therefore, this issue has to be given a deep and thoughtful consideration.".Read the BCI Statement: