Top court bans new law colleges

Seeks details of private law colleges from VCs of affiliating universities


Rana Yasif January 21, 2018
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: The Supreme Court has barred all universities across the country from awarding affiliation to new law colleges.

A two-judge bench of the top court was on Saturday hearing a suo motu case at Lahore Registry regarding substandard law colleges.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, also ordered vice chancellors of universities with affiliated law colleges to submit a signed report detailing their admission criteria, the quota of students as well as the results produced by the colleges.

The CJP also expressed displeasure over non-appointment of VC in the Punjab University. However, the chief secretary assured the court that a VC would be appointed soon.

Supreme Court of Pakistan is an independent institution: CJP

Justice Nisar also directed the VCs of all universities to inspect affiliated institutions. He said he was at a loss to understand how every university introduced its own educational standards, adding, “Everyone is doing what he wants to.”

He said substandard law colleges must be closed down, adding that it was his dream to see one education system in the country. “But unfortunately we have not strengthened our institutions rather the institutions of the country are being weakened,” he added.

The CJP stressed the need for producing competent lawyers instead of those who "sell paan during the day and practise law in the evening". He vowed to reform the standard of law education in the country within six weeks.

The top judge also dismissed authenticity of the National Testing Service (NTS), saying the system was no good. "Why not eliminate entry tests in the study of law? If forgery is the way to become a lawyer, let’s wrap up this system then," he said.

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