New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that could fundamentally reshape the country’s legal education landscape. On Monday, March 16, 2026, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of a petition seeking to replace the current five-year integrated law course with a streamlined four-year LLB degree after Class 12.
The petition, filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, argues that the existing five-year BA-LLB and BBA-LLB programs are disproportionately long and place an “excessive financial burden” on middle- and lower-class families.
Judicial Reflections: The History of Law Courses
During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant shared a personal historical perspective on the evolution of legal studies in India, correcting a common misconception about the origins of the integrated course.
- Academic Roots: The CJI noted that the pioneer of the five-year course was not the National Law School (NLS) Bangalore, but Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, which launched its first batch around 1982-83.
- A Collaborative Approach: While the court agreed to hear the matter next month, Justice Kant emphasized that the judiciary cannot act in isolation. “The judiciary is only one stakeholder. We cannot thrust our views,” he remarked, adding that any reform would require deep deliberation with academicians, jurists, the Bar Council, and policy researchers.
The Case for a 4-Year Degree
The petitioner, Ashwini Upadhyay, highlighted several core issues with the current system:
- International Standards: Upadhyay pointed out that in most developed nations, the LLB course after high school is four years long, whereas India remains an outlier at five years.
- Curriculum vs. Duration: He contended that the five-year syllabus is “disproportionate” to the actual course material and lacks sufficient practical knowledge, delaying a student’s entry into the workforce by two unnecessary years.
- Attracting Talent: The petition claims the current structure is failing to attract the “best talent” and requires a complete structural overhaul to remain competitive.
Proposed Legal Education Commission
The PIL seeks the establishment of a specialized Legal Education Commission composed of eminent jurists and law experts. This commission would be tasked with:
- Reviewing and framing a more effective syllabus for legal studies.
- Designing a curriculum that balances academic theory with practical legal skills.
- Suggesting measures to make the legal profession more accessible and attractive to top students.
The Bar Council of India (BCI), as the primary regulator of legal education, will likely be a key respondent in the upcoming hearings to determine if such a reduction in duration is academically feasible.
