“Senior citizens”, as they are being referred by the younger groups in the class, are joining the five-year law course of the Osmania University and diluting the very purpose of the course introduced a few years back.
The five-year integrated law course (BA LLB) of OU Law college is apparently being targeted by students, who have completed their post-graduation as five-years of stay in the hostels is guaranteed. Youngsters competing with them in the entrance examination are losing out to the experience of such senior students. The trend has started couple of years ago as ‘senior students’ found the five-year course more appealing as they can stay in the hostels for five years and prepare for competitive examinations.
The five-year course was started in 2007-08 with an intake of 60 seats to attract Intermediate-passed talent towards the Law course. Initially it was open to students whose age was less than 20 years (Open category and BC candidates) and 22 years (for SC and ST students). However, the age restriction was challenged in the High Courts in different States forcing the Bar Council of India, whose guidelines the Law colleges across the country have to follow, to move the Supreme Court. Since the issue is pending in Supreme Court, the age restriction condition is not being followed and senior students are apparently utilising this opportunity to join the five-year course.
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Some senior professors involved in the admission process say that though a few students make proper utilisation of the stay using the library and other facilities and prepare for competitive examinations, others treat it as a ‘food course’. However, teachers say some brilliant youngsters are being attracted to the five-year course. In the batch passing out this year, two students have been picked up by the Supreme Court Judge Altmas Kabir to work under him.