Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Examines Calls to Revise Legal Education
The Supreme Court heard a request to change how law is taught in India.
The request asks experts to review LLB and LLM courses.
It also questions whether five-year integrated law programmes are too long and costly.
The petitioner says the courses should match changes in other higher-education programmes.
The request refers to the National Education Policy 2020, which supports four-year undergraduate programmes in many fields.
The court said legal education is important and needs careful study.
It suggested that an expert body could examine the courses and recommend changes.
The Union government was asked to play an important role in finding a possible solution.
The court did not make a final decision during this hearing.
The Supreme Court said concerns about the structure and duration of law courses require serious consideration.
The court was hearing advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay’s petition seeking reforms to LLB and LLM education.
The petition calls for a legal education commission or expert committee to review syllabi, curricula and course duration.
It argues that five-year integrated programmes place financial pressure on students and may be disproportionate to their academic content.
The court issued no final direction but highlighted the Union government’s role in proposing a way forward.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who filed the petition.
- What
- The court examined a plea seeking expert review and possible reforms to LLB and LLM syllabi, curricula and course durations.
- When
- Tuesday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in India.
- Why
- The petition argues that existing legal courses, especially five-year integrated programmes, may be too lengthy and expensive and should be reviewed in light of the National Education Policy 2020.
Reform Advocates
Existing Framework Under Review
Course duration
Reform Advocates
The petition argues that five-year integrated law programmes are disproportionate to the academic material covered and impose a financial burden on students.
Existing Framework Under Review
The existing course structure remains in place for now; the court has not ordered a change to programme durations.
Expert oversight
Reform Advocates
The petitioner seeks a dedicated commission or expert committee to comprehensively review legal education and recommend reforms.
Existing Framework Under Review
The court has not yet approved the proposed body and asked the Union government to develop an appropriate proposal.
Alignment with education policy
Reform Advocates
The petition says legal education should be reassessed in light of the National Education Policy 2020 and its emphasis on four-year undergraduate programmes.
Existing Framework Under Review
The articles do not report a response from the Bar Council of India or a decision adopting the proposed changes.
- Petitioner
- Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay
- Courses under review
- LLB and LLM programmes
- Main proposal
- A legal education commission or expert committee
- Suggested experts
- Educationists, jurists, retired judges, advocates and professors
- Programme concern
- The petition challenges the structure and duration of five-year integrated courses such as BA-LLB and BBA-LLB.
- Policy referenced
- National Education Policy 2020
- Current status
- The Supreme Court issued no final direction during the hearing.