Age Limit for Law Courses? BCI vs State Government

The Bar Council of India (BCI), as per the Standards of Legal Education, had set rules stating that the age limit of the students enrolled in the five-year law course will not be above 20 years (22 for reserved category) and those enrolled in three-year law course will not be above 30 years (35 for reserved category). This rule was made in the year 2008.  State Government, however, did not have any such criterion in its brochure. Now that the BCI has restored this rule on September 17, the age limit criterion has become a hurdle for many ‘over-aged’ aspirants and the universities who have already enrolled such students.

BCI vs State Government

The State recently had to re-furnish the rules with much insistence from the BCI. Considering State Government’s rules that were put earlier, universities had already started enrolling students without any age limit as a criterion.

The age limit rule was restored when most of the admission processes of law colleges and universities were completed. After many arguments by these law institutes, BCI has finally asked the state government to take a decision. However, it warned the law universities and the state that if over-aged students were enrolled, they would not be given a license to practice law.

How Justified is the Age Limit Criterion to Study Law?

Technically, education is for all. Anybody can study whenever s/he thinks is the right time. Considering studying law, we have 90 year olds practising law until date. Why cannot aspirants study law and apply whenever they want to? Why the age would decide that s/he can or cannot study law?

On the other hand, if seats will be allotted to older people, how are the younger ones going to come forward. This means, these fresh minds out of schools/colleges aspirants will have to wait to get into good colleges. A chance should be given to the young ones now, rather than someone who is much older.

This decision by BCI has created confusion and ruckus between law universities, who have enrolled ‘over-aged’ students, and left the state in a dilemma. The decision is pending with the state as universities wait for the final call.