Sagar Pattanashetti’s dream is to become a judge but he fears his chances might be slim. The third-semester student of B.V. Bellad Law College in Karnataka’s Belgaum district is studying law in his mother tongue, Kannada. “I want to become a judge but I’m finding it tough,” he said. “I studied in Kannada medium all through but feel I need to know English well. Once I am through with my semester examinations, I will take coaching next year to improve my English.”
Pattanashetti’s concerns are valid. Without the basic skills in English, a lawyer who has studied in a vernacular medium can only go so far. While practicing law in the local language helps certain groups of clients, the lawyer himself has to be reconciled to spending his entire career practicing in the lower courts. For judges, knowing English is almost essential.
The most recent iteration of the draft National Education Policy 2019 suggests that state law colleges consider o‹ering bilingual education for future lawyers and judges – in English and in the language of the specific state. The document says: “A host of measures will be undertaken such as, inducting teachers who are well versed in the regional language as well as English, making text books and study materials available in both languages, and allowing examinees to write their examination in either medium”. This, the draft education policy argues, will “alleviate delay in legal outcomes consequent to need for translation”.
Legal education has been imparted in regional languages by some colleges for over three decades. But opportunities for these students have not expanded.
English and legal studies
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Careers 360.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Careers 360.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up
'Forced to take up bonded labour
There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution
