SC abolishes 3-year LLB programme w.e.f Dec 31

• Only 5-year long course to be offered with annual semester system

• 11 universities allowed to offer affiliations

• No evening classes to take place until further orders

ISLAMABAD: A Supreme Court (SC) bench on Friday issued law colleges reforms decision under which the 3-year LLB programme will be abolished with effect from (w.e.f) December 31, 2018, and only a five-year course will be offered after the given date.

The decision was read out by Justice Omar Ata Bandial in this respect.

The decision said that this would be the last year for LLB 3-year programme, and the five years LLB programme will be based on annual semester for which the entry test for aspiring law graduates will be held under the supervision of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

SC also abolished evening classes in law colleges. It was said in the judgment that stance can be heard on the matter of evening classes.

According to the decision, any private law college would not be able to affiliate itself other than 11 renowned universities fulfilling specific criteria. The decision about the affiliation of colleges with universities will be in the hands of HEC from now onwards.

The decision said no one will be given stay order on the matter of law colleges.  Providing quality education by colleges is imperative, it was stated.

The decision said that HEC and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) should file a report on the performance of law colleges within six weeks.  The colleges which do not obtain approval from Pakistan Bar Council should be deemed suspended.

According to the decision, a sitting judge would be allowed to teach at accredited law colleges. The affectees of bar councils and HEC should resort to SC directly, it was ruled.