Several Maharashtra law colleges missing from LLB admission portal, students raise concerns

The Story in Brief

Students taking part in Maharashtra’s centralised admission process for three‑year and five‑year LLB programmes found several prominent law colleges missing from the list of institutions available for the first round of option filling. High‑scoring candidates were unable to select some reputed colleges on the admission portal. The CET Cell said only colleges that had obtained Bar Council approval and affiliation from their universities were included in the first round. Last year admissions covered 218 three‑year and 161 five‑year colleges; this year the first‑round list includes 93 three‑year and 56 five‑year colleges.

The Bar Council’s approval requires colleges to meet norms such as appointment of full‑time principals, qualified faculty, moot courts and other infrastructure. Reports say 125 three‑year and 105 five‑year colleges have not completed approval formalities or not even submitted applications. The Higher Education Department allowed submission of proof of having applied so colleges could be considered, and officials said institutions that complete formalities before the next round may be included. The department also offered a seat‑retention option and a second‑round betterment facility, but uncertainty remains whether missing colleges will join subsequent rounds.

The Indian Opinion

The story combines legitimate student concern with clear statements from officials about regulatory requirements. Some coverage or reactions might present the absence of colleges as solely an administrative failure, but the facts in the report show many institutions had not applied for or completed Bar Council approval. The Bar Council’s conditions on principals, faculty and infrastructure are regulatory safeguards for legal education, and the department allowed proof of application to be considered. At the same time, students’ disappointment is understandable given past larger lists of participating colleges. Where the facts are thin is in the timeline for remaining colleges to secure approval; it is uncertain how many will complete formalities before the next round.

Original article: Several Law Colleges Missing From Maharashtra LLB Admission Portal, Students Raise Concerns (www.freepressjournal.in)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.