The new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of National University of Study and Research in law (NUSRl) Professor Dr BC Nirmal who joined his office on Monday feels that the law cradle needs permanent buildings in order to mark ‘national’ status in the field of Indian legal education.
Dr Nirmal was the Dean of Faculty of law at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and was appointed among six best Jurists of India by the Search Committee formed by Jharkhand High Court. He is associated with prominent academic associations and law universities of India. He was awarded life Time Achievement Award by All India Teacher’s Congress and Indian Intellectual Council for his contribution to the field of International Humanitarian law and International Human Rights law. In an exclusive interaction with The Pioneer just few hours after his joining he expressed his opinions on how the university can earn ‘national cum global’ status. Excerpts:
You have been a guest faculty here. Now you are the VC, what are your immediate prioritiesIJ
I have got a responsible job. In a place like Ranchi there is a national law university but to understand its national status is a matter of Research. It is big opportunity as well as challenge. Unless the law cradle does not gets its own building till then it will not take the shape of a ‘national’ institution. This is a matter of discussion here. My initial priorities are infrastructure and teaching. The main objective is to make this institute ‘National’ in true terms
What is the social role of national law universitiesIJ
I had raised this question in a media interview on 22 July last year. Today most of the law graduates prefer corporate jobs which is obviously not ‘real advocacy’. We need lawyers and Judges for the large population of our country and that is why such model was adopted. But, youngsters move to corporate houses and firms for good salary package. It is a compulsory afterall because they have to spend a huge amount during their law studies.
Why are you connecting NUSRl with immense research opportunitiesIJ
Jharkhand is rich in mineral resources. Teaching is one aspect and research is another aspect. If the government supports, research has a wide scope in this state. Here the control of Judges is more so I cannot say much. There are various rights like RTI, Right to MNREGA and Food Security Bill. Then there are laws made especially for the locals of a particular region. It is important to understand how they are being utilized and what the hurdles in implementation of these laws.
Why do you want NUSRl to get ‘unique’ featureIJ
This institute needs to develop its own unique feature. Then only students of this cradle will distinguish themselves from the students of other universities. like Oxford Cambridge, Stanford and Harvard have their respective unique qualities. Unique defines quality education. The present development is because of the initiative of first VC.
It is said, there are many law academicians in Jharkhand and Bihar from BHU. What have you observed by this factIJ
If survey is done most of the University Heads of this region would be my students of BHU. However, I do not have record so cannot tell the numbers. Now I have come here so will gradually need their support. For example, Patna law College Principal Rakesh Verma was my students in BHU. Tonight I am leaving for Varanasi and will return after two or three days. I look forward to meet all of them after coming back. Fulfilling all the agendas as Dean in law at BHU has been my satisfaction.