Government Law College, Mumbai

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Government Law College
Established 1855
Academic affiliation University of Mumbai
Location Churchgate, Mumbai
Former names Government Law School (till 1925)[1]
Website Official Website

The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India. Though the institution was formally founded in 1855 with the establishment of the Perry Professorship of Jurisprudence, its origins lie in the earlier lectures of Sir Thomas Erskine Perry , then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bombay. The institution has played a prominent role in judicial, political, social life and historical background of India and is possibly the only college in India to have produced heads of all three arms of Government i.e President of India, Prime Minister of India and the Chief Justice of India. The college celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006.

Contents

[edit] Courses offered

While there is no entrance examination for admission to Government Law College, the college requires high cut-off percentages for admission to its courses. It offers the following courses:

B.L.S., LL.B: This is a five-year integrated law course, leading to a B.L.S., LL.B. Degree from the Mumbai University. Each year consists of semesters. The first four semesters, conducted in the first and the second year, constitute a 'Pre - Law' course. The LL.B. degree is awarded on successful completion of five years (10 semesters in total).

LL.B. Degree: This is a three-year law course, resulting in an award of a degree on successful completion. The course structure is divided into six semesters. Students who do not wish to practise as advocates are eligible for the LL.B. (General) Degree upon the successful completion of the second year (4th semester). On successful completion of three years (6 semesters), the LL.B. Degree is awarded.

Postgraduate Diploma Course in Securities Law: Realising the growing importance of India's capital markets and in keeping with its pioneering role in Indian legal education, the college offers a one year Postgraduate Diploma Course in Securities Law.

[edit] Student Committees

Students Council

Moot Court Association

Model United Nations Society

Students' Law Commission

Placement Committee

Magazine Committee

Model United Nations Committee

Dramatics Committee

Sports Committee

Legal Aid Committee

Gujarati Mandal

Hindi Parishad

Music Circle

Social Service League

SPIL Mumbai

Law Review

Rotaract

Marathi Mandal

Leo Club

[edit] Library

The Government Law College library provides students with extensive facilities to maximize their knowledge in the field of law. It is probably the most frequented section of the college, and most certainly a haven for dedicated law students.

From the commencement up to 1872, the Law School was attached to the Elphinstone High School. In 1856-57 a collection of law books was purchased for the use of the students at the suggestion of Mr. E. I. Howard, Bar-at-Law and the then Director of Public Instruction. But this could only be housed at the Native General Library at Dhobi Talao for the lack of space. Eventually, in 1891, Government Law School and its Library were accommodated in Elphinstone College Building at Kalaghoda and on 13th July, 1891, the Government sanctioned a grant of Rs.2,000/- for the purchase of furniture and other equipments for the Law Library. Every Principal in its own way tried to enrich the library in order to make it useful to the students as well as to the practitioners. During his tenure Dr. B. R. Ambedkar prevailed upon the Government to make an additional grant of Rs. 1000/- which was sanctioned in 1936. The Harilal J. Kania Memorial Library and Reading Room on the third floor of the college has been a part of this college since 1952. This Reading Room was created from the Harilal J. Kania Memorial Fund, which was instituted to honour the memory of Sir Harilal J. Kania, the first Chief Justice of India and an ex-student of GLC. This Reading Room can accommodate as many as 200 students at a time. The other two floors, i.e. the first and the second floors of the annex building, house various books on case law, many of which are more than a hundred years old. There are more than 36,000 books in the library.

The Library has a number of rare books including a complete set of Indian, English and US (Supreme Court) Reports, Moore’s Indian Appeal Series, every volume of Tagore Law Lecture series from its first edition in 1870 and the classical collection of Mohammedan Law i.e the 24 volumes in Arabic of Bihar-ul-Anwar. Another prized work is the CPC of the East India Company’s Courts in the presidency of Fort St. George. The star of the collection is however a first edition of the Indian Penal Code by Lord Macaulay in 1886. The archives of the college also contain many rare documents.

The students can avail of library facilities from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Timing is extended at the time of examinations. For easy and prompt access, all books are catalogued manually as well as on the computer.

[edit] Prominent current and former professors

  • Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Former Principal, reformist, first Law Minister of India and Chairman, Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India
  • M. C. Chagla Former Chief Justice, Bombay High Court
  • A. A. A. Fayzee, former Principal and one of the foremost authorities on Islamic Law
  • Mr. H. D. Pithawala, Solicitor of India, England and Hong Kong and noted authority on Competition Law
  • Sir John Beaumont, the former Chief Justice, Bombay High Court and the then President of Board of Visitors of the College

[edit] Prominent alumni

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Inception
  2. ^ Laureate Biography: 2002 Gruber Justice Prize Gruber Prize for Justice website.

[edit] External links

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