Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized the need to extend university-level law programs to remote rural areas, ensuring inclusivity for non-English speaking students, as a part of progressive move to democratize legal education. Speaking at the inauguration event of Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University, the Chief Justice highlighted the disparities in the current legal education system, particularly favoring English-speaking urban students.
Key Points:
Democratizing Legal Education: Chief Justice Chandrachud underscored the importance of leveraging technology to reach students in far-flung areas. He expressed concerns about the current legal education system primarily benefiting English-speaking urban children.
Language Barriers in Admissions: Referring to a diversity survey in five law universities, the Chief Justice pointed out that students from diverse backgrounds face challenges in securing admissions due to language barriers, especially the requirement to speak English.
Technology for Inclusion: The Chief Justice mentioned the Bhashini software, which has translated over 36,000 judgments of the Supreme Court from 1950 to 2024. This initiative aims to make legal information accessible to non-English speaking practitioners at district courts, addressing language-based hurdles.
Medium of Instruction: Justice Chandrachud urged law colleges and universities to design programs with inclusivity in mind, accommodating students from diverse backgrounds. He suggested that the medium of instruction should be in Hindi, ensuring that the best students from states like Uttar Pradesh have the opportunity to excel in legal education.
Role of Lawyers in Nation-Building: The Chief Justice acknowledged the pivotal role lawyers play in nation-building. He highlighted their contribution to upholding justice principles and representing marginalized communities within the legal system.
Inclusive Legal Education: The event, attended by dignitaries including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other legal luminaries, emphasized the crucial role of inclusive legal education in fostering a more equitable and just society.
Justice Chandrachud’s advocacy for regional accessibility, language inclusivity, and leveraging technology demonstrates a commitment to making legal education accessible to a broader spectrum of students, irrespective of their background and linguistic proficiency.
