Teaching law in regional languages can improve access to legal system: CJI
Chief Justice of India Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Saturday said law students should be well-versed with regional languages and laws so that people's access to the legal system can be improved. Addressing the third convocation of Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow, Justice DY Chandrachud underscored the importance of imparting legal education in «easy language», asserting that it is currently a shortcoming in the legal profession.
Citing an analysis done by the research department of the Supreme Court on 81 universities and colleges, the CJI said, «It was found that common people experience hurdles in understanding their rights and schemes meant for them as they do not know English.»
«This means that in law universities, legal education is imparted English, and many times, students at legal aid centres are not able explain legal procedures to the common people in regional languages,» he said.
Justice Chandrachud said he was not blaming anyone or suggesting that English should be removed from legal education, only suggesting that regional languages should also be adopted in it.
The CJI further said, «Laws related to regional issues should also be taught in our universities. Suppose a person comes from a village to the university or to the university's legal aid centre and shares his land-related problem. If the student does not know the meaning of Khasra (land record) and Khatauni (land record document), how will the student be able to help that person?»
«After coming to Uttar Pradesh, I
