Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Motto: Dharma Sansthapanartham
(for the sake of establishing the primacy of the laws of eternal value)
Established 2003
Type: Public
Undergraduates: 350
Location Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
Affiliations: UGC
Website: www.hnlu.ac.in

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) is a university in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. It was established as a centre for legal excellence by the Government of Chattisgarh under the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chattisgarh, Act (Act No.10 of 2003). HNLU being one of the most prestigious centre for legal education in india offers innumerable oppourtunities for the students to interact with acadmecians, lawyers, Judges, firms, banking and other related institutions. The University imparts BA, LLB (Hons.). LLM, M. Phil and Ph. D. Degees. It is a Residential University and is sixth in the series of National Law Schools in India. The State of Chattisgarh has opened the doors of opportunities to the aspiring young generation of Law Students on similar lines as National Law Schools in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Kolkata and Jodhpur. HNLU has been included in the list of the Universities maintained by the University Grants Commission under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 and has been declared fit to receive Central assistance in terms of the rules framed under Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act, 1956. The Chief Justice of India is the Visitor of the University. The Chief Justice of High Court of Chattisgarh is the Chancellor and Prof. (Dr.) M.K. Srivastava, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University. Admission to the B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) Programme is made strictly on the basis of merit as assessed through a National Entrance Test conducted each year for the purpose by the Admission Committee, appointed by the Vice Chancellor. The admission test is for the purpose of testing (a) linguistic ability; (b) analytical skills; (c) level of quantum of information; (d) mathematical aptitude; (e) legal reasoning; and (f) aptitude for learning law. Some preliminary psychological ability test may also be included.

Courses and Curriculum

HNLU currently offers following courses :-

* B.A., LL.B (Hons.) - Under Graduate Integrated Law Degree

* LL.M - Master of Laws

* Ph.D.

Integrated Law Course Design

Total number of semesters: 10 Total number of courses: 50 (Five in each Semester)(excluding the internship and court room exercises). Normally students are required to work 40- 45 hours in a week. Unless otherwise instructed by the Faculty all courses other than Honours courses in the first three years are taught courses having a self-learning and small research project/paper writing and presentation component in it. In a taught course one credit shall mean one class hour and ½ to 1 hour self learning per week in normal condition. As such a 6-credit course means 6 ½ to 7 hours work per week. Optional and compulsory law courses are first-grade mixed courses requiring 1-hour class with 1-hour self-study. As such, each such course with 6 credits would require 6 class hours and 6 class hours of self-study, i.e., 12 hours of work per week. Honours course is a mixed course of research and teaching. Teaching in honours course is not expected to be more than 25% to 33% of the entire teaching learning system. In Honours course one credit shall mean one class hour and 2 to 3 research hours per week in normal condition. Therefore 10-credit honours course may mean 3 class hours and 7 research hours or as instructed by the faculty per week. Each semester programme is for 15-18 weeks programme. Core Courses: 6 each with 8 credit points: Political Science (2 courses distributed in Political theory; Political Obligations and International Relations); Economics (1 Course in Economics and law); History (1 Course in History of Law and Institutions,); Psychology (1 Course) and Sociology (1 Course).

English: 2 courses, each course to have 6 credits. Long Law Courses: Four courses on Constitutional Law (2 courses) and Crime and Punishment (2 courses) each equal to 9 credits. Law courses: 26 courses Compulsory Operational/Functional courses = 8 courses with 8 credit each in Moot court, Internship, Legal Aid and Rules of Courts (continuous process); Drafting and Pleading; Professional Ethics and Law relating to Legal Profession; Jurisprudence-I : Interpretation of Statutes; Civil Procedure; Criminal Procedure; Law of Evidence. Compulsory Substantive law Courses = 18 courses with 8 credit each in Legal Method, Torts, Contract, Family Law I and II, Jurisprudence II, Administrative Law, Company Law I and II, Property Law, Labour Law I and II, Public International Law, Law and Agriculture, Private International Law, Environmental Law, Consumer Protection Law, Commercial Transactions; Equity, Trust and Specific Relief. Optional Courses : Four Courses with 9 credit points each: Forest and Environment Law of Mines and Industries Law and Tribals Law and Agriculture Law and History Alternative Dispute Resolution Women and Law Child and Law WTO Studies Laws of International Governance Welfare and Governance Media and Law Medicine and Law

Honours Courses: Six courses each with 10 credit points: Constitutional Governance Corporate Legal System Financial System Trade and Investment Law and Technology Law and Agriculture International Legal Studies Administration of Criminal Justice Human Right Law Forensic Science

The Student Bar Association

The Student Bar Association at HNLU is the representative body of the students and maintains the highest degree of professionalism and ethics. The Association is comprised of twelve students who are the conveners of the twelve committees of the University. A President and a Vice-President are then elected from amongst these twelve members. The members and officers of the Association hold office for a year. The Association is responsible for making all decisions affecting the students and makes suitable recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor. The Association also coordinates and supervises the activities of all the committees at the University.

Objectives

HNLU has been established by the Government of Chattisgarh to attain among others, the following objectives:

* To advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law and research and with a view to ensure its proper role in national development
* To develop among the students and research scholars a sense of responsibility to serve society in the field of law by developing skills in regard to advocacy, judicial and other legal services, legislation, law reforms and the like.
* To prepare and train lawyers of national and international repute with high moral and ethical values;
* To advance the professional education and also to provide adequate orientation and training to judicial officers and others who are involved in the administration of justice.

Disclaimer: All the information provided by the editor is in bonafide and true to best of his knowledge.