Challenges Faced by Law Colleges in Implementing India’s New Laws: A Call for Curriculum Overhaul

India implemented three new laws, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) on July 1 to modernize the criminal justice system and make it more citizen-centric. However, the implementation of these new laws has posed a challenge for law colleges, universities, and departments in transitioning their curricula to align with the new legal framework.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has urged institutions to update their curricula to reflect the evolving legal landscape of the nation. However, concrete steps in this direction are yet to be taken by the central and state governments and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Professor Faizan Mustafa, vice-chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, highlighted the lack of initiative in making changes to law curricula in law schools despite efforts to upgrade police stations and promote digitization.

As the new laws have only recently come into force, there is a limited availability of resources and commentaries on the legislation. Professor VC Vivekanandan, vice-chancellor of Hidayatullah National Law University, Chhattisgarh, mentioned that more resources and judgments related to the new laws are expected to be available in the coming months.

Adapting to the new laws requires a shift in mindset and teaching patterns, according to MSS Kurhade, director of DTSS College, Sanskar Sarjan Education Society, Mumbai. He emphasized the importance of digital literacy and e-courses in light of the increasing role of technology in the legal field.

Teaching the new laws will also require a comparative study between the new legislation and the old laws, as highlighted by Prof Aswini Patro from IFIM Law School, Bengaluru. He pointed out the challenges in updating the legal curriculum, including aligning existing coursework with new legal provisions, securing support from faculty and students, and ensuring access to high-quality education for students from diverse backgrounds.

To effectively teach the new laws, faculty may need training programs, workshops, seminars, and opportunities to engage with legal experts. Asha Verma, pro vice-chancellor & professor (Law) at IILM University, Gurugram, suggested organizing moot courts and mock trials to make the new laws more engaging for students.

Overall, the transition to the new laws poses challenges for educators in updating their curricula, but with proper training and resources, they can effectively teach the new legal framework to students.