#IdemandFromMyLawSchool

 

 

Changes that I demand from my Law School

"Change is not pleasant , But change is constant . Only when we change and grow, We'll see a world we never know."

1)      Communication between the teachers and students

 Is there paucity of academic interaction between the students and the teachers? The teachers should take student’s review of not only the way they want to be taught but also of the syllabus. Certainly the syllabus for substantive and procedural laws cannot be changed but majority of us are doing an integrated course, may be B.A, BB. A, B.com,etc. Is the syllabus that is being taught  helpful enough to sustain legal knowledge or something more can be done to get the syllabus in commensuration as it is the time of specialisation. Is the system flexible enough  to accept such change?

 

2)      Why don’t you give me the answer sheets back?  

Why is it so that I write my examination you disclose the result after months that too without my answer sheets in my hand. How do I get to know where I went wrong. You talk about improvement, how will I improve till the time you don’t tell me where to improve. I am sure there has been times when we all felt that the checking has been done arbitrarily and the only solution you are left with is to file the re-evaluation form, pay 650 bucks, wait for an year and by the time your results appear you forget the syllabus, what you wrote in the examination is a far cry.

3)      Are new recruitments fit enough to teach?

India represents 1/6^th of human race but contributes only 2.8 percent in the global output research. The question is are the new teachers fit enough to persuade a law student to research and appreciate the fundamentals of legal principles. Has any authority cross checked the teachers, taken the views of the students, attended even one class with the students to check if the teacher is competent enough to hold a classroom. It is nothing unprecedented because the school I belong from had this mode of recruitment, and it was a Catholic school, no wonder why all Catholic schools are more prestigious.

4)      Less of paper work 

 I wonder how many student initiatives die fearing the laborious task of paper work he/she has to go through. An accessible authority is all a student demands, such an authority should be answerable to everything.

-
Anonymous

INTERVIEW SPECIAL #3#WithSoumyaSinghChauhan

1. Hey Soumya, you are finally into the University of Washington! What was the procedure to reach this prestigious institution?

The procedure is a little long, but if handled efficiently, it is not difficult to get through it. Preliminary work includes giving the Toefl or the IELTS exams. For other US Universities one would need to create an LSAC Account via which the applications are submitted. However, UW applications were submitted through its website. The application process requires submission of the TOEFL/IELTS Scores and the Official Degree Transcripts to be sent to UW. This is something that should be done as soon as possible as it tends to take time. Other than that what really counts is the Statement of Purpose and the CV. The procedure at the students' end is not really much, but the selection process and standards are tough.

2. How is the legal education in Young U.S. different from that of India?

Legal Education as such is not very different if we talk about what entails getting the degree. In the U.S., students complete their Undergraduate degrees (4 years) and then take admissions into JD (3 years) which is the bachelor of laws. The system of teaching and the course selection method is very different from what we are used to. What is followed here is the credit system and it depends on how vast the syllabus is and how many classes are needed to complete it. The teaching methods are also different. We are assigned readings and regular assignments that have weightage in the final scores. The exams are usually open book. So, yeah its quite different. Initially, it was little overwhelming and one needs some time getting used to it after coming from a completely different system.

 

3. Tell us something about your course ? Where do you see yourself after its completion?

I am doing LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Policy Law and its a one year course. I have always been interested in the fields of Trademarks and Copyrights, probably because of my love for arts and music. But I have grown passionate about this field over the past few years and would like to practice in these fields. Speaking very honestly, I would not let go of the chance to explore the options here if the right opportunity presents itself, and I do not mind coming back to India with a U.S. LL.M. Degree. But there is no way of being certain about it at this point. I do see myself practising IP Law, and the hard work is certain in that direction. Its really up to which country welcomes me with open arms after that :)

4. Are Americans aware of the concept of mass bunk? Do they also submit medicals to complete their attendance?

Haha! I do not think so! I have not seen something like that happening and especially in the LL.M. course. I don't think anyone wants to miss a class when you are paying hundreds of dollars per credit. I am not going to do that, and my classmates would agree that its completely in character :D

5. Do you miss StuC there? 

I do miss Stu-C so much!! I have always loved the aura of student centre, and nothing screams Panjab University as loud as Stu-C does. It is the heart of all action, and after that is UILS. I do miss Panjab University, UILS and Stu-C a lot. And all the people thinking right now that they won't, are so wrong and off mark. You tend to get attached to a place when you spend 5 years in it, while growing up. Wow! I am gonna think of Stu-C for a few days now!

ABOUT THE RESPONDENT:

Soumya Singh Chauhan is an alumna of University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University who is currently pursuing her LL.M. degree in the University of Washington. She is a young girl with vivid personality who has demonstrated leadership qualities and proved her caliber at various times. Having a creative inclination, she has a keen interest in poetry, music and sketching.

LEGAL BULLETIN #8#Afternoon Special

 

NEW APPOINTMENTS

 

Abdelilah Bekirane has been elected as the Prime Minister of Morocco.

Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as DG of Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Antonio Guterres elected as new Secretary General of UN.

as DG of Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/category/current-affairs-2016/persons-in-newsD

Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as DG of Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/ajay-kumar-bhalla-appointed-dg-directorate-general-foreign-trade-10201636439.html

Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as DG of Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/ajay-kumar-bhalla-appointed-dg-directorate-general-foreign-trade-10201636439.html

Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as DG of Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/ajay-kumar-bhalla-appointed-dg-directorate-general-foreign-trade-10201636439.html

BAR & BENCH

 

 CIC has transfer powers - Bombay  HC

Bombay HC has ruled that State Chief Information Commissioner has power to transfer State Information Commissioner from one region to other to ensure proper functioning of Commission. This can be done under Section 15(4) of the RTI Act.

Wife's demand for privacy not cruelty towards Husband - Delhi HC

Delhi HC has held that demand for privacy by a married women after she enters her matrimonial home cannot be dubbed as cruelty towards husband to grant divorce. Right to privacy is a fundamental right and it is the duty of the in-laws to provide privacy.

LEGAL BULLETIN #7#AfternoonSpecial

                                                                

PARLIAMENT SPECIAL

22 MPs recognised as consolidated bloc in Rajya Sabha

 

Rajya Sabha chairman , Hamid Ansari has recognised a group of 22 MPs belonging to smaller parties and certain independents as a consolidated bloc - the United Group. It will be the 3rd largest group of MPs in the Rajya Sabha after the Congress & the BJP.

The bloc will find a place in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that decides time allotment. The MPs of bloc will secure more time to speak in house debates which was earlier as little as 3  minutes of speech time.

p.s. - This is the 3rd time in the history of Indian parliament consolidated bloc has been recognised.(First was in 1983 and second in 1990).

BAR & BENCH

Relief possible against minor, women,etc under DV Act, 2005

 

SC struck down the words "adult male" before the word "person" in Section 2(g) of Domestic Violence Act in an important pronouncement Hiral P Harsora and ors Vs. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora & Ors. 

 SC held that these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and is contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the Domestic Violence Act. Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person.

SC Strikes Down Words ‘Adult Male’ From The Definition Of “Respondent” Under Section 2(Q) Of DV Act

Read more at: http://www.livelaw.in/sc-strikes-words-adult-male-definition-respondent-section-2q-dv-act-relief-possible-minors-women/v

Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person as the Supreme Court in an important pronouncement in Hiral P Harsora and ors Vs. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora & Ors, has struck down the words “adult male” before the word “person” in Section 2(q) of Domestic Violence Act holding that these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and is contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the Domestic Violence Act.

Read more at: http://www.livelaw.in/sc-strikes-words-adult-male-definition-respondent-section-2q-dv-act-relief-possible-minors-women/

Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person as the Supreme Court in an important pronouncement in Hiral P Harsora and ors Vs. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora & Ors, has struck down the words “adult male” before the word “person” in Section 2(q) of Domestic Violence Act holding that these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and is contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the Domestic Violence Act.

Read more at: http://www.livelaw.in/sc-strikes-words-adult-male-definition-respondent-section-2q-dv-act-relief-possible-minors-women/

Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person as the Supreme Court in an important pronouncement in Hiral P Harsora and ors Vs. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora & Ors, has struck down the words “adult male” before the word “person” in Section 2(q) of Domestic Violence Act holding that these words discriminate between persons similarly situated, and is contrary to the object sought to be achieved by the Domestic Violence Act.

Read more at: http://www.livelaw.in/sc-strikes-words-adult-male-definition-respondent-section-2q-dv-act-relief-possible-minors-women/

KNOWLEDGE BOOSTER #3

Recipients of Nobel Prizes 2016

 

1. Nobel Prize in Physics

David J. Thouless

is from Scotland and affiliated to University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

F. Duncan M. Haldane

is from England and affiliated to Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.

J. Michael Kosterlitz

is a British-born American professor at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

For: Theoretical discoveries topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.

2. Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Jean-Pierre Sauvage

University of Strasbourg, France.

Sir J. Fraser Stoddart

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.

Bernard L. Feringa

University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

For: Design and synthesis of molecular machines.

3. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Yoshinori Ohsumi

A Japanese cell biologist,the professor is currently at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

For: Discoveries of mechanisms for Autophagy.

4. Nobel Prize in Literarture

Bob Dylan

An American singer- songwriter

For: Having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.

5. Nobel Peace Prize

Juan Manuel Santos

President of Columbia since 7 August 2010.

For: His resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end.

6. Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics

Oliver Hart

A British-American economist ,United Kingdom of
Harvard University.

Bengt Holmstrom

is from Finland and affiliated to Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For: Contribution to contract theory. 

KNOWLEDGE BOOSTER #2

Nobel prizes

The Nobel Prize is a set of annual international awards bestowed in a number of categories by Swedish and Norwegian institutions in recognition of academic, cultural, and/or scientific advances.

Background

The Nobel Prizes were created by Alfred Nobel for promoting outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and for work in peace. They were established by the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, which dictates that the awards should be administered by the Nobel Foundation &
most of his fortune should be used for prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind.

The Categories:

The six prizes awarded are:

Nobel Prize in Physics – Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – Awarded by the Karolinska Institute

Nobel Prize in Literature – Awarded by the Swedish Academy

Nobel Prize in Peace – Awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee

Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics – Also known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, it was instituted in 1969 by Sveriges Riksbank, the Bank of Sweden. Although it is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences with the official Nobel prizes, it is not paid for by his money, and is technically not a Nobel Prize. 

 

Nominations & Selections:

Each year, thousands of members of academies, university professors, scientists, previous Nobel Laureates and members of parliamentary assemblies and others, are asked to submit candidates for the Nobel Prizes for the coming year. 

These nominators are chosen in such a way that as many countries and universities as possible are represented over time.

 Forms, which amount to a personal and exclusive invitation, are sent to about 3,000 selected individuals to invite them to submit nominations for noteworthy candidates.

 The strictly enforced submission deadline for nominations is January 31.

 Self-nominations are automatically disqualified.

 Only living persons are eligible for the Nobel Prize. 

 The names of the nominees cannot be revealed until 50 years later.

After the nomination deadline, a committee reduces the number of nominations to a list of 200 preliminary candidates.

 The list is sent to selected experts in the field of each nominee's work and the list is further shortened to around 15 final candidates.

The Prize:

Each recipient, or "laureate", receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a sum of money, which is decided by the Nobel Foundation, yearly.

Award Ceremonies:

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway and the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature and the Prize in Economic Sciences are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

 

EXPERTS REVIEW #5#UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

Muslim personal law and uniform civil code:

Justice B Kemal Pasha, a sitting judge of the Kerala High Court, was recently in the spotlight for comments made at a seminar. He called for the reforms of Muslim personal law and asked why a muslim woman can't have four husbands.

Yes, of course, if a muslim man can have four wives at a time then why not a muslim woman or is it what u call equality?

In history, the polygamy was permissible only due to the need of the society at that time but the Quran and Hadis should be read in the context of the time we are living in and polygamy can't be stretched as a license in the modern days.

Moreover, the concept of tripal talaq- just uttering "talaq" three times from the husband's mouth leads to the dissolution of marriage and leads a girl to lose her everything in a single moment.There is need for total ban on oral/unilateral talaq.

" Life without discipline and uniformity is just like the Indian police job."

These deficiencies of the personal law are not only a subject of codification but what we really need is a "Uniform Civil Code". Uniform civil code is the proposal to replace the personal laws based on religion with a common set governing every citizen. In fact article 44 of the Indian constitution has provision for this as well.

And why not? If there is a criminal code which is applicable to all irrespective of religion, caste, tribe & domicile in the country, then why there is no similar code for dealing divorce, succession, etc.

There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. We need change in the system and for this we need to bring change in our rigid thoughts regarding religion and women.

 We are a united country and for this country we need uniformity of civil codes.......because unity without uniformity is like community without conformity.

About The Author:

 Shahina khatoon is a 2nd year student of  BA.LLB(Hons) , Punjab School of Law, Punjabi University, Patiala.