| 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 |
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.
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
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.