Lack of basic facilities disgust LLM students
Close to 600 students enrol for the LLM course at the varsity each year.
MUMBAI: The University of Mumbai’s (MU) never-ending list of alleged shortcomings only seems to be increasing for students. Master of Laws (LLM) st-udents have been consta-ntly requesting the vice-chancellor, in letters and meetings, to provide the-m with basic facilities but in vain. According to them, the department of law lacks research facilities, basic infrastructure and digitisation for technical subjects, among other things.
They have stated that this is in breach of regulations made by the University Grant Commission (UGC) and Bar Council of India (BCI) for maintaining minimum standards in the institute/college. As per the BCI, in its meeting held on September 14, 2008, through resolution no. 110/2008, the institute/college should have library facilities with internet access, rea-ding rooms, classrooms with a maximum intake of 60 students in each section, special and tutorial classrooms, adequate facilities for indoor and outdoor games, etc.
Close to 600 students enrol for the LLM course at the varsity each year. Students feel they are being mocked by the varsity as during the admissions they were shown a different picture. “The brochure claimed there was a separate library with digital facilities, digital classrooms, a separate moot court, state-of-the-art facilities and what not. But in reality, the truth is that we don’t have even a computer,” a student said on the condition of anonymity.
“Digital infrastructure is not an option but a ne-cessity for any law res-earch student to enable them to compete in the mainstream global are-na,” the student added.
Meanwhile, students even complained about the lack of research mat-erials. “All the material we have submitted is lyi-ng in a dark room like garbage. Our hard work will be reduced to rat food in some days,” ano-ther student said, adding that in other colleges, research material is stored in databases.
The students have also written letters to Chancellor of MU, Bombay high court, Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, BCI Delhi and the state higher education ministry to voice their grievances.