Opening LLB courses in private universities

Court order puts UGC in a fix

A recent court order on the opening of law departments in private universities has put the University Grants Commission (UGC) in a fix. The order, which came on April 13, 2016, said universities would have to take the permission of the Bangladesh Bar Council (BBC) to start LLB courses. But the order was stayed by the HC for six months following a writ petition by the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB).
The UGC is now confused whether it can permit private universities to start LLB courses after getting the BBC’s clearance or not. UGC sources said several private universities had applied for permission to begin LLB (hons) courses. But the UGC cannot take a decision in this regard.
“We don’t know whether we can permit private universities to start new courses under their law departments, even with the BBC’s permission,” Jesmin Parvin, deputy director of the UGC, said yesterday. The UGC has now asked its legal cell to explain the HC stay order. “We are waiting for their response. We are facing problems in carrying out work relating to university law departments,” added Jesmin Parvin. While hearing a complaint against Darul Ihsan University, the court gave the order requiring BBC approval for offering of LLB courses. The court ordered that universities would have to submit applications at the BBC by August 31 to obtain the clearance certificate after a payment of Tk. 1,000,000 as security deposit in the BBC’s bank account. The CVs of 10 permanent teachers with their academic certificates would also have to be submitted.
However, after obtaining the High Court stay order, private universities are going ahead with all their work regarding their law departments, including admission. According to the the UGC, at least 64 out of the country's 94 private universities are running law programmes.
Prof Abdul Mannan Choudhury, the vice-chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), had told The Independent earlier that they sought the stay order because many things were not clear in the Darul Ihsan University case judgment.
“We will seek an elaborate explanation of the judgment. Besides, the order that has been given to the law departments of private universities is very difficult to meet within a short time,” he had added. Prof Dalem Chandra Barman, the vice-chancellor of Asa University, told The Independent that they have completed the admission procedure in their law department this year. “A stay order has been issued against the clearance certificate. So, we are carrying out our normal activities under the stay order,” he argued. According to the court order, private universities need at least five standard-sized classrooms for the exclusive use of law students and at least 10 full-time qualified teachers on a permanent basis.

Opening LLB courses in private universities

Court order puts UGC in a fix

A recent court order on the opening of law departments in private universities has put the University Grants Commission (UGC) in a fix. The order, which came on April 13, 2016, said universities would have to take the permission of the Bangladesh Bar Council (BBC) to start LLB courses. But the order was stayed by the HC for six months following a writ petition by the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB). The UGC is now confused whether it can permit private universities to start LLB courses after getting the BBCs clearance or not. UGC sources said several private universities had applied for permission to begin LLB (hons) courses. But the UGC cannot take a decision in this regard. We dont know whether we can permit private universities to start new courses under their law departments, even with the BBCs permission, Jesmin Parvin, deputy director of the UGC, said yesterday. The UGC has now asked its legal cell to explain the HC stay order. We are waiting for their response. We are facing problems in carrying out work relating to university law departments, added Jesmin Parvin. While hearing a complaint against Darul Ihsan University, the court gave the order requiring BBC approval for offering of LLB courses. The court ordered that universities would have to submit applications at the BBC by August 31 to obtain the clearance certificate after a payment of Tk. 1,000,000 as security deposit in the BBCs bank account. The CVs of 10 permanent teachers with their academic certificates would also have to be submitted. However, after obtaining the High Court stay order, private universities are going ahead with all their work regarding their law departments, including admission. According to the the UGC, at least 64 out of the countrys 94 private universities are running law programmes. Prof Abdul Mannan Choudhury, the vice-chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), had told The Independent earlier that they sought the stay order because many things were not clear in the Darul Ihsan University case judgment. We will seek an elaborate explanation of the judgment. Besides, the order that has been given to the law departments of private universities is very difficult to meet within a short time, he had added. Prof Dalem Chandra Barman, the vice-chancellor of Asa University, told The Independent that they have completed the admission procedure in their law department this year. A stay order has been issued against the clearance certificate. So, we are carrying out our normal activities under the stay order, he argued. According to the court order, private universities need at least five standard-sized classrooms for the exclusive use of law students and at least 10 full-time qualified teachers on a permanent basis.