On May 27, students of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) in Lucknow organized a protest to voice a myriad of concerns that have reportedly been ignored for several months. A key issue highlighted was the university’s omission from the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) list of recognized Centres of Legal Education (CLEs). According to Section 24 of the Advocates Act, a law degree from a non-recognized institution by the BCI is invalid for enrollment as an advocate.
An investigation by Bar & Bench into the BCI’s official list of approved CLEs confirmed that RMLNLU is not listed. Neither the Vice-Chancellor (VC) nor the Registrar of the university responded to emails seeking clarification about this missing recognition. Attempts to contact the VC telephonically were also unsuccessful.
The student body had submitted a formal memorandum to the VC on May 26, the day preceding the protest, to express their grievances. They emphasized that the protest was a culmination of unresolved issues that had not been addressed throughout the academic year.
Among the cited complaints was a new academic calendar which significantly altered the internship schedule. Previously, a full-month internship window in December was available, aligning with the schedules of most law firms. However, the revised calendar now offers a break from December 17 to January 15, which students claim is impractical for securing internships. Consequently, students often extend their internships into January, thereby missing approximately 15 days of classes.
The impact of this change is particularly severe at RMLNLU, which lacks significant on-campus recruitment from law firms and corporate legal departments. Internships remain a crucial avenue for students to develop professional networks and enhance their employability.
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Additionally, the extension of the winter semester into May, when Lucknow experiences extreme heat, exacerbates conditions in the university hostels. These facilities lack air-conditioning, and the girls’ hostel is reportedly over capacity. The students’ memorandum describes the living conditions during this period as “unsafe and untenable,” and calls for phased air-conditioning installations, increased fan availability, and an uninterrupted power supply as immediate remedies.
Further grievances include concerns over water quality, inadequate food standards, poor sanitation, and a lack of routine pest control. Students also allege that hostel rules, including biometric systems and curfew timings, are being modified and enforced without prior written notifications, leading to inconsistent implementations. The memorandum also criticizes hostel staff for contacting parents without a formally notified rationale.
Academically, students have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of timely updates on attendance figures, making it difficult to address potential issues before they escalate. There are also complaints about mid-semester answer scripts not being returned, which prevents students from gauging their performance before final exams. Furthermore, library access is reportedly restricted during examination periods and the summer, times when students need these resources the most.
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Following the protest, a meeting was conducted between student representatives and the university administration. However, four days later, the minutes of this meeting had not been shared with the student body. As a result, students remain unaware of the discussions, any agreements made, or deadlines set by the administration.
