As first told to parliament in July of this year, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reiterated today in response to MPs’ questions that the Centre had no interest in meddling directly in states’ administration of national law schools.
According to the The Leaflet on Twitter (see above), “at present there is no proposal pending with this [Law & Justice] Ministry to set up a National Law School/ University in each State/ UT, nationalization of National Law Universities (NLUs) and inclusion of all national law universities in the list of institutions of national importance” (INI).
The question, as well as several others, were asked by three MPs from Shiv Sena and one from the DMK party.
Previously, in July, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi had asked a similar question.
Thanks to the reader who had sent us the tip, who added:
Once again the minister stubbornly said no to the proposal. Interesting that regional parties from Maharashtra and TN are now seeking nationalisation, as newer NLUs like MNLU and TNNLS will stand to benefit.
Comments
1) NLUD peeps: Same status quo position as NLSIU. Not concerned about lack of funding. Want to retain #2 NIRF position. Also earns more money through AILET.
2) NALSAR peeps: Mostly same status quo position as NLSIU, but some rumours that KC Rao may impose populist reservation in the future and start a second campus. So may shift stance.
3) NUJS peeps: Very keen on nationalisation because they have suffered from bad admin and declined from Menon-MP Singh glory days. Desperately want to resist interference from Mamata. In fact, a token #NationaliseNLUs protest actually took place at NUJS a year ago, but fizzled out due to lack of support from NLSIU and NALSAR: https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/nujs-leads-nlu-student-consortium-demand-for-ini-status-to-nlus-with-law-day-demonstrations-20181127-9661
4) NLIU, NLUJ and GNLU: Want Nationalisation, feel that NLUD had edged them by a long distance due to more funding. However, NLUJ and GNLU student bodies are weak. NLIU student body is strong, but will not protest if none of the older NLUs join.
5) HNLU, RGNUL, RMLNLU, NLUO, MNLU, NUALS, CNLU, TNNLU, all other NLUs: Want Nationalisation. Student bodies of HNLU and RGNUL are strong, but will not protest if older NLUs do not join in.
So we are stuck with a situation where even MPs from rustic parties like Shiva Sena and DMK are more progressive than NLU students.
Sour grapes! You sound like someone jealous of NLSIU because you dod not get a good CLAT rank. Everyone knows the college's success and how it has transformed legal education.
[quote]AK: Are you in favour of having NLSIU and other NLUs declared as ‘Institutions of Eminence’? Is there some sort of a joint effort towards that goal in the works?
SK: I am not sure if any of the other NLUs have applied, I know that we have not applied. I am so new here that I cannot say if there is a group of NLUs working in that direction.
It is a viable direction, at least for some of us. We’ve brought great energy to the education system in the country. The alumni of this law school are testament to its success. We have a track record of delivering. If the Institution of Eminence tag is a recognition of success, then we should be right up there for consideration.
AK: What are some of the benefits that will come with recognition?
SK: The first advantage, of course, would be resources. There are some regulatory freedoms which are relevant. Hopefully, we get the opportunity to widen our student base and re-formulate our programmes in a way that will serve out academic and intellectual purposes the best. The Institution of Eminence tag will give us the freedom to do that.
Thirdly, it will be a huge reputational boost. If we get it, we can plan our next steps in terms of where we want this law school to be.[/quote]
[quote]When asked whether it was a priority for NLS to become a national Institution of Eminence (IOE) (which NLS, Nalsar Hyderabad and NUJS Kolkata did not apply for in 2017 but that JGLS won last month), Krishnaswamy said: “I think I’m certainly going to explore that right away. I need to work through the micro detail of regulations for that we did it at Azim Premji as well, we were on that list of initially certified organisations.
“I kinda know it, but I want to go over it in detail.”
The IoE rules are complicated and so far have tended to favour multi-disciplinary universities. “It appears other [non-multidisciplinary institutions have made it],” he said, “but if we are not multi-disciplinary enough, we can promise in that direction.”
[/quote]
https://barandbench.com/if-the-institution-of-eminence-tag-is-a-recognition-of-success-we-should-be-up-for-consideration-nlsiu-vc-prof-sudhir-krishnaswamy-part-ii/
https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/in-1st-vc-interview-sudhir-krishnaswamy-lays-out-his-nls-gameplan-starting-with-fees-faculty-ioe-budgets-20191001-10893
I hope he does that either way. We need the best professor(s) and that requires not depending on state/central funding and increasing class sizes.
Let NLIU Bhopal lead from the front and start a #NationaliseNLUs movement!
https://www.facebook.com/lawsoc.nls/photos/a.735882893199535/2465123006942173/
RS Prasad wouldn't do a thing. NLUs are simply not "politically important" for the Centre, irrespective of the party in power. I doubt the Judiciary can and will do much especially when they cannot even get to fill vacancies in the courts etc.
Increased funding is welcome. But think. Is "funding" really the problem. Suppose the Centre "takes over" or grants INI, will things really improve if NLUs continue to be ruled by PSJ, PIB, SSS, NKC and their clones? We may demand XYZ but what levers do we have to ensure that our words are taken seriously? And there is only so much distance that can be traversed through imposition. If there is a culture that prefers and supports folks like those mentioned above, can that really change with "increased funding"?
Even in NLUs which apparently had better finances such as NLSIU, NUJS, RGNUL etc look at the multi-crore scams that got "buried". We have all read how Lord Taluk and now NKC have been covering up scams and frustrating inquiries exactly the way PIB did. Why do you think VCs in NLUs keep getting away? The governing bodies do not rubber stamp just like that. Yes the members are lazy and self-serving but not stupid.
Get the governance right, first. That's going to be lonely fight for students.
[quote]He suggested it is time for the Ministry of Human Resources (Dept. of Higher Education) to think seriously and consider granting the status of Institutions of National Importance to few National Law Schools, without any delay.... The achievement of theseparameters is possible only if institutes ofnational importance emerge in the realmof law also. He humbly acknowledged that National Law School of India University, Bangalore, which is ranked as number one by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD), and by the virtue of being the eldest member of the family, has a special responsibility and pious obligation to lead the change, which is overdue[/quote]
As a result of this recommendation, it was proposed that NLUs be brought under the new HECI Act and the top NIRF ranked law schools possibly be given the status of INI . Manan Mishra is lobbying against the MHRD regulating law schools. But INI or IOE status for the top NIRF rankers may happen.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ekVMgy0hwDYJ:https://sci.gov.in/pdf/PublicationOther/proceeding_book051018.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/jio-institute-brings-in-power-packed-advisory-panel/articleshow/72152830.cms
I asked a lawyer who advises Reliance and knows a bit about the project. This is what he told me about the proposed law school:
- The law school is going to be a joint collaboration with Northwestern University Law School in the US. It will start only when foreign universities are allowed in India, not before that.
- Under the collaboration all degrees will be signed by the VC of Jio and the Dean of Northwestern . The law school may even be called the Jio-Northwestern School of Law.
- The degree options will be a BBA LLB from Jio or a BBA LLB-JD dual degree with Northwestern.
- Fees will be more than NLUs but less than JGLS.
- Focus will be pure business law: M&A, tax, banking, real estate, IP, tech, trade, insurance, competition etc.
I think IoEs are exempt from all this stupidity...
Don’t know anything about Jio University, though...
But what else has he done (or not done)? What about his SBA fans? Foot-in-mouth? How does so-called collaborations with Ox(en) et al really matter in the everyday governance of campus. SBA is so busy ranting against purveyors of Acche Din outside they missed the Din that this Ache could cause. There is difference in (vicariously) "knowing" a Rhodes and actually walking the Roads. No wonder SK and NUJS have mutual disenchantment.
Quite a few knew what SK would do. But what is evergreen fav Sarasu doing? Following orders? Where have we heard that line/excuse before?
1. He IS applying for INI status for the college.
2. He WILL raise funds and give scholarships.
3. He WILL hire good new profs.
4. Blocking pirated movie downloads is NOT surveillance.
IS he investigating the allegations of financial scams and mismanagement? And don't say he WILL, all the developments so far indicate he certainly lacks the will in that direction and hence by extension, the way too probably.
First, no NLU deserves to be called a University. A university is a large institution with multiple faculty and departments. Like Delhi University, JNU or BHU. NLU has only law faculty. They can be decent law colleges but certainly not university.
NLS Bangalore has 20-30 faculty members and 500 students. A typical DU college like Hindu or Hansraj has 4000-5000 students and 100-200 faculty members with over one dozen departments including sciences, social sciences, commerce etc.
Each DU college is much bigger in size than any NLU.
All NLUs should be brought under one Central Act passed by Parliament and each NLU should be a part of this Central Law University and all State Acts should be superceded. This Central University can become an INI or IOE in due course.
I agree a VC needs to be applauded for attracting (and retaining) talent and providing good leaderships. Credits should also be given and shared where due. But I had no idea that doing one's job, which actually includes doing these things, is to be understood only in superlative terms.
In a way Messiah is a great lesson. He is doing what he does best. What about Sarasu? Great expectations there as well? Students got Pipped there as well?
Karmanye aadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana
Even when SBA was crooning Messiah, we came across cautionary accounts, which of course went unheeded. But it is the other alum that worries me. Is she turning into Marisa Coulter?
But "The Man" needs to be given "more time" (to bury us even deeper). Why? No inquiry into how the multi-crore deficits were caused. No fixation of responsibility. But let's increase student fees and impose so-called austerity and discipline to bring back glory days. And let's throw a trinket called alumni hires.
Organised crime/loot needs law and order. Ever think about that?
The latter seems like a waste of valuable time no ? When firemen arrive at a fire, they try to put it out- not waste time immediately catching and prosecuting arsonists. Eventually maybe , if time allows.
As for complaints about Internet surveillance and austerity measures- these exist even in world class elite institutions abroad. As someone who studied in one of these spaces, I can tell you that the university will install programs on your computer to block certain websites and track illegal activity, and they will try to save money by insisting on not turning on the heat until absolutely necessary. Things cost money. And to claim it’s a violation of free speech is ridiculous.
What you should be fighting for, the only thing that will help you is to bargain for greater student participation in administrative matters, and to ensure that the people who get to teach you are not just qualified but also capable. The rest won’t matter to you once you graduate.