Bar Council of India backs PIL to hold CLAT in regional languages in Delhi High Court.

BCI Files Affidavit Defending CLAT Exam in English

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has filed an affidavit defending the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) being conducted in English. The affidavit comes in response to a plea by law student Sudhanshu Pathak, who demanded that CLAT 2024 be held in Hindi and other regional languages.

Pathak’s Argument for Regional Language Inclusion

Pathak argued that conducting the CLAT exam only in English leads to gross injustice for students who have pursued a non-English medium education. He claimed that the current format of the exam discriminates against and fails to provide a level playing field for students from educational backgrounds rooted in regional languages.

“In a hyper-competitive paper, they are linguistically disempowered as they have to surpass the additional hurdle of learning and mastering a new language,” Pathak stated in his plea.

BCI’s Defense of CLAT in English

In its affidavit, the BCI expressed its support for conducting the CLAT exam in English. The council argued that English is the medium of instruction in most law colleges and universities across the country. Therefore, it is essential for students to have a strong command of the English language to excel in their legal education and future careers.

The BCI further highlighted that legal education often involves complex concepts and technical terms that are predominantly available in English. Conducting the exam in regional languages would not only require translation but also potential loss of accuracy and clarity in understanding legal concepts.

Importance of English Language Skills in Legal Profession

The BCI emphasized that the ability to understand and communicate in English is crucial for law students and professionals. English is widely recognized as the language of the legal profession globally, and proficiency in English enables Indian lawyers to compete on an international scale.

The council acknowledged the concerns raised by Pathak and other students from non-English medium backgrounds. It assured that efforts are being made to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of legal education for all students, irrespective of their language medium. However, the BCI maintained that conducting the CLAT exam in English is necessary to maintain the quality and standard of legal education in India.

Summary:

• The Bar Council of India (BCI) has filed an affidavit defending the CLAT exam being conducted in English.
• A law student, Sudhanshu Pathak, had approached the High Court demanding that CLAT 2024 be held in Hindi and other regional languages.
• Pathak argued that conducting the exam only in English causes injustice to students who pursued a non-English medium education.
• The BCI supported conducting the CLAT exam in English, stating that it is necessary for students’ success in legal education and future careers.
• The BCI recognized the concerns of students from non-English medium backgrounds and assured efforts for inclusivity in legal education.