University Law College, Bangalore
Encyclopedia
The University Law College, Bangalore University
, is a pioneer legal-education institution located in the garden city of Bangalore
(also called Bengaluru), in the state of Karnataka
, India
. The college, popularly known as ULC - Bangalore, is widely recognized as one of the country’s best government run law schools. It has consistently been ranked amongst the top law colleges in India by India Today
in its annual reports, with the highlight being ranked as the 2nd best law college in the country for the years 2001 and 2004.
(BU), which was started originally in 1886 at Central College, later given status of Degree awarding body through its own name in July 1964 under the Mysore Act No.26, later replaced by the Karnataka State Universities Act.
The University offers a wide range of curricular options encompassing 9 faculties which include both traditional as well as modern intellectual disciplines. With as many as 600 affiliated Colleges, 75 Post-Graduate Departments, more than 360,000 students pursuing undergraduate programs and 7,362 students specializing in postgraduate studies, the Bangalore University has grown to be recognized as one of the largest universities in Asia
. The Bangalore University has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC
) in 2001 and awarded Five Star Status. The University is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and has also received the recognition of University Grants Commission (UGC).
In the era of privatization and commercialization of education in India, ULC continues to uphold the philanthropic tradition in Indian education by dispensing affordable legal education and reaching out to every strata of the society. With a fee structure that amounts to a fraction of the fee charged by most private legal institutions in India, ULC continues to provide its students with the platform to equip themselves with knowledge they can apply to influence legal and social causes.
) started the college in the year 1948. It was previously known as the Bangalore Government Law College. Prof. Narayan Rao was the first Principal of the college. From 1964, ULC was brought under the Faculty of Law of Bangalore University. ULC started with a two-year course, and later offered a three-year postgraduate LL.B. program till 1986.
is an Indian government-sponsored programme under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. ULC established a NSS unit in 2008, with about a hundred student-volunteers. The NSS unit at ULC has been actively involved in many social service activities in rural areas and has organized blood donation camps. NSS volunteers have also contributed towards the eco-friendly theme of the new campus by enriching the greenery in the campus with many plants.
competition hosted by ULC is the flagship activity of the student body, the Society of Mooters. The competition attracts participants from law colleges all across the country. The justices of the High Court of Karnataka preside over the finals of the moot court competition. The Fifteenth edition of the All India Moot Court Competition of ULC was held in February 2011.
A few noted alumni of ULC:
Bangalore University
Bangalore University is a public university located in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India. The university is one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1886...
, is a pioneer legal-education institution located in the garden city of Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
(also called Bengaluru), in the state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The college, popularly known as ULC - Bangalore, is widely recognized as one of the country’s best government run law schools. It has consistently been ranked amongst the top law colleges in India by India Today
India Today
India Today is an Indian weekly news magazine published by Living Media India Limited, in publication since 1975 based in Mumbai. India Today is also the name of its sister-publication in Hindi...
in its annual reports, with the highlight being ranked as the 2nd best law college in the country for the years 2001 and 2004.
Bangalore University
ULC is administered and maintained by the Bangalore UniversityBangalore University
Bangalore University is a public university located in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India. The university is one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1886...
(BU), which was started originally in 1886 at Central College, later given status of Degree awarding body through its own name in July 1964 under the Mysore Act No.26, later replaced by the Karnataka State Universities Act.
The University offers a wide range of curricular options encompassing 9 faculties which include both traditional as well as modern intellectual disciplines. With as many as 600 affiliated Colleges, 75 Post-Graduate Departments, more than 360,000 students pursuing undergraduate programs and 7,362 students specializing in postgraduate studies, the Bangalore University has grown to be recognized as one of the largest universities in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The Bangalore University has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
) in 2001 and awarded Five Star Status. The University is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and has also received the recognition of University Grants Commission (UGC).
Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law of Bangalore University offers courses both at UG and PG level. The University Law College (ULC) is the only constituent college of law directly administered by the Bangalore University. Dr.K.M.H.Rayappa, the present Principal of ULC, also serves as the Chairman & Dean, Faculty of Law of Bangalore University. ULC hosts a few well-qualified and experienced faculty and a resourceful administrative staff. The visiting guest-lecturers and professors, mostly legal practitioners, lend flexibility and expertise to the academic staff of ULC.In the era of privatization and commercialization of education in India, ULC continues to uphold the philanthropic tradition in Indian education by dispensing affordable legal education and reaching out to every strata of the society. With a fee structure that amounts to a fraction of the fee charged by most private legal institutions in India, ULC continues to provide its students with the platform to equip themselves with knowledge they can apply to influence legal and social causes.
Campus
From the early days of its inception, ULC was situated in the City Campus of Bangalore University, close to the legislative and highest judicial seat of the state. However, at the beginning of the academic year 2006-07, ULC shifted from the heritage campus to a new spacious building situated in the sprawling Jnana Bharathi Campus of Bangalore University, which is located on 1100 acres (4.5 km²) of land close to the Kengeri suburb of Bangalore. This state-of-the-art new facility hosts eight class rooms where formal teaching sessions are conducted for both B.A.L,LL.B. and LL.M. programms, two seminar halls, an independent library and an administrative block with chambers for the Principal, the Chairman & Dean, and all teaching faculty members. The Bangalore University canteen and other shared facilities are located close by. This new eco-friendly campus is also equipped with rain water harvesting system. In addition to these facilities, though ULC is a non-residential law college, separate hostel facilities are available for male and female students within the Jnana Bharathi campus of Bangalore University.Early History
The erstwhile Government of Mysore (now the State of KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
) started the college in the year 1948. It was previously known as the Bangalore Government Law College. Prof. Narayan Rao was the first Principal of the college. From 1964, ULC was brought under the Faculty of Law of Bangalore University. ULC started with a two-year course, and later offered a three-year postgraduate LL.B. program till 1986.
Pioneering the 5-Year Integrated B.A.L, LL.B. Program
In the year 1982, Prof. Dr. V.B Coutinho became the Principal of ULC. During his term, the college emphatically transformed into one of the first professional law colleges in the country by introducing the five-year integrated B.A.L,LL.B. program for the first time, in the academic year 1986-87. This was an initiative to achieve higher standards in legal education. A few years thereafter, the Committee on Subordinate Legislation of the 10th Lok Sabha, the Committee of Judges on Legal Education appointed by the Chief Justice of India in 1993, and the All India Law Ministers Conference in 1994 unanimously recommended the adoption of the five year LL.B. program as the course for professional legal education.Academia
At present, ULC offers:- the five-year integrated Bachelor of LawsBachelor of LawsThe Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(B.A.L,LL.B.) program, a semester program with 100 students admitted each year; and - the two-year specialized Master of LawsMaster of LawsThe Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
(LL.M.) program in 5 different branches, with an intake of 12 students per branch (Criminal Law - Business Law - Constitution and Legal Order - Labour, Capital & Law - Environmental Law)
Library
The ULC library is a depository for a large collection of treatises, journals, research papers, documents and other reference material on national and international law. The library has a total collection of more than 45,000 books, 16,000 journals and 18,000 other reference materials. It also houses computers with internet facility for research facility for students and teachers.Wholesome Education
A challenging curriculum and a diverse student population at ULC prepare the students for success in law practice, litigation, business, public service, and teaching. The experience and exposure to various facets of academic and clinical legal training at ULC is unparalleled. Recognizing the necessity of experiential learning, ULC has developed a state–of–the art clinical program offering students an opportunity to be associated with the legal profession through seminars/workshops, internships, mandatory trial-court visits, legal-aid programs, research & projects,, model parliament and moot court activities. Legal education at ULC equips the students for the complete spectrum of career opportunities available to lawyers, and provides them with the capability to adapt to the rapid pace of change that characterizes modern legal practice. As a testimony to this fact, among ULCs graduates are many Supreme Court and High Court Justices, renowned public servants, bureaucrats, lawyers and academicians of repute.Student activities
Outside the classroom, there are a rich variety of student interest groups which allow students to pursue every possible interest. The student initiative at ULC is its greatest strength and a spirit of collaboration reigns throughout a student's stay at ULC. Although originally students from urban and rural parts of Karnataka looked at ULC to pursue the study of law, today students come from every region of the country and several foreign countries as well.NSS
The National Service SchemeNational Service Scheme
National Service Scheme ' is an Indian government-sponsored program under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. It was started in 1969.-History:...
is an Indian government-sponsored programme under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. ULC established a NSS unit in 2008, with about a hundred student-volunteers. The NSS unit at ULC has been actively involved in many social service activities in rural areas and has organized blood donation camps. NSS volunteers have also contributed towards the eco-friendly theme of the new campus by enriching the greenery in the campus with many plants.
All India Moot Court Competition
The annual national level moot courtMoot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
competition hosted by ULC is the flagship activity of the student body, the Society of Mooters. The competition attracts participants from law colleges all across the country. The justices of the High Court of Karnataka preside over the finals of the moot court competition. The Fifteenth edition of the All India Moot Court Competition of ULC was held in February 2011.
Sports Activities
ULC regularly organizes annual sports day and other sporting events such as intra-collegiate football, basketball and cricket tournaments for both boys and girls.Cultural and Literary Festivals
ULC also hosts an annual inter-collegiate literary and cultural festival, in addition to a host of intra-college cultural activities. Having successfully organized such festivals in the past under different names, ULC continues this tradition with its law festival called Jus Celebre.ULC Alumni
The "University Law College Alumni Association" (ULCAA), Bangalore has been constituted with a larger objective of, among other things, helping students of the college with career pathing and counseling.A few noted alumni of ULC:
- Hon'ble Mr. Justice M. N. VenkatachaliahM. N. VenkatachaliahM. N. Venkatachaliah was the 25th Chief Justice of India. He served as Chief Justice from 1993 to 1994.He had education in the old State of Mysore with Bachelor's degree in Science and Bachelor's degree in law of the University of Mysore. He commenced general practice of law in the year 1951,...
, former Chief Justice of IndiaChief Justice of IndiaThe Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
; former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) (1996–1998); former Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee (1999); and a recipient of the Padma VibhushanPadma VibhushanThe Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
(2004). - Hon'ble Mr. Justice N. VenkatachalaN. VenkatachalaNanje Gowda Venkatachala is retired judge of the Supreme court of India and former Lokayukta of state of Karnataka. He was popular for his approach of taking action in each and every case he caught, many times red-handed by personally leading the raid while he was serving as Lokayukta...
, former Judge of the Supreme Court of IndiaSupreme Court of IndiaThe Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
(1992–1995), and former Karnataka Lokayukta. - Hon'ble Mr. Justice N. Santosh Hegde, the present Karnataka Lokayukta, and former Judge of the Supreme Court of India (1999–2005).
- Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.V. Raveendran, Judge, Supreme Court of India (October 2005–Present) and former Chief Justice, High Court of Madhya Pradesh.
- S. M. KrishnaS. M. KrishnaSomanahalli Mallaiah Krishna , generally referred to as S. M. Krishna, is the Minister of External Affairs and a member of the Indian Parliament from Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha. He was the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and the Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to...
, Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs, India (23 May 2009–Present) and a Member of Parliament (MP) from Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha; former Governor of the State of Maharashtra (12 Dec 2004 - 5 March 2008); and former Chief Minister of Karnataka (11 Oct 1999 - 28 May 2004). - Veerappa MoilyVeerappa MoilyMoodbidri Veerappa Moily is the current Minister of Corporate Affairs in the Indian government. Moily was elected as MP of the Chickballapur district by a wide margin in 2009. He currently serves as the All India Congress Committee General Secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh...
,Union Law Minister,India (28 May 2009–Present); Chairman of 2nd Administrative Reforms CommissionAdministrative Reforms CommissionThe Administrative Reforms Commission or ARC is the committee appointed by the Government of India for giving recommendations for reviewing the public administration system of India. The first ARC was established on 5 January 1966...
of India; and former Chief Minister of Karnataka(19 Nov 1992 - 11 Dec 1994). - Margaret AlvaMargaret AlvaMargaret Alva is the Governor of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Alva became Uttarakhand's first woman governor in July 2009...
, Her Excellency, Hon'ble Governor of Uttarakhand (July 2009–Present). - S. Bangarappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka (1990–1992).
- B.L. Shankar, former Minister and ex-Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council.
- V.S. Ugrappa, former Leader of Opposition, Karnataka Legislative Council.
Law In Action
In the recent past, ULC has, through Bangalore University, partnered with University of Paris X-Nanterre for exchange of faculty and students. Over the last few decades, ULC has evolved to be more diverse and its student activities more varied. Building on a strong foundation and a rich tradition, ULC has transformed into a law college of choice for many aspiring lawyers.See also
- :University Law College, Bangalore alumni