COVID-19: BCI constitutes High-Level Expert Committee to deliberate on method of evaluation for LL.B. Students in intermediate semesters

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has constituted a 12-member expert committee to deliberate on the issue of how to evaluate law students for promotion to intermediate semesters amid the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic..The Committee will be chaired by Justice Govind Mathur, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court who will be the Convener of the Expert Committee.." .... the Council was of the view that a High Level Committee of noted academicians/Vice-Chancellors be constituted and requested to deliberate on this issue and suggest a consensual mode for holding examination/evaluation and promotion for intermediate semester Law Students should be formulated", stated the BCI. .The BCI clarified that it has decided not to issue guidelines its own with regard to "the holding of examination for intermediate semester or final semester students of Law." .This is in view of the fact that the guidelines issued by the BCI last year were challenged in Courts. Further, it is noted that some Universities wanted to depart from the BCI guidelines and adopt their own protocol for holding the examination. ."Bar Council of India’s predominant view this year has been to leave this matter with the respective Universities and enable them to take a decision keeping in view the convenience and the situation, the University and Students are placed in", stated the BCI..The development comes close in the heels of a number of students across law universities writing to the BCI about difficulties faced by them when it comes to assessment amid the pandemic..Cancel end-term assessments, alter existing evaluation methods: Law students write to BCI for relief amid COVID-19 crisis.It is also informed that an email from Prof. (Dr.) Vandana, Dean, Faculty of Law, Delhi University was received by the BCI on May 27, informing that DU has announced exams for UG and other streams. This is going to commence from June 7. Planned examinations for LL.B. (all years) are to commence on June 10, in Open Book Exam (OBE) and blended mode, the BCI was told. .Pertinently, she had asked the BCI if any general instructions have been issued by the body or whether such guidelines are in the pipeline for the Law Departments in the Central Universities. Prof Vandana has also been asked to place her views on the issue as a special invitee to the Expert Committee deliberations. .[Read the BCI statement]