| Case Details | |
|---|---|
| Case ID | 43cbc1c0-8a41-4220-9177-1dca768ed7df |
| Body | View case body. Login to View |
| Case Number | Constitution Petition No. 134 of 2012 |
| Decision Date | Aug 31, 2018 |
| Hearing Date | Aug 20, 2018 |
| Decision | The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a ruling regarding the standards of legal education and the role of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HECP) in overseeing legal training. The Court mandated the restoration of the Bar Entrance Examination (LAW-GAT), the establishment of a Law Admission Test (LAT), and the specification of rules regarding the recognition of law colleges and universities. The decision addressed issues of disaffiliation of sub-standard law colleges and emphasized the need for improved legal education standards to ensure competent legal practitioners in Pakistan. The Court's directives include establishing committees to monitor compliance and ensuring the quality of legal education across the country. |
| Summary | In the landmark case of Constitution Petition No. 134 of 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed the critical issue of legal education standards in the country. The ruling highlighted the growing demand for well-trained lawyers and emphasized the need for strict regulations governing law colleges and universities. The Court reinstated essential examinations like the Bar Entrance Examination (LAW-GAT) and established guidelines for the admission process to law colleges through the Law Admission Test (LAT). The decision also included directives for the disaffiliation of sub-standard colleges and mandated improvements in legal education to ensure that future lawyers possess the necessary skills and knowledge to practice effectively. The ruling is expected to enhance the quality of legal education and ultimately improve the standards of advocacy in Pakistan, ensuring that legal practitioners are well-equipped to uphold justice and serve the community. |
| Court | Supreme Court of Pakistan |
| Entities Involved | Federal Government, Pakistan Bar Council, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan |
| Judges | Mian Saqib Nisar, Umar Ata Bandial, Ijaz-ul-Ahsan |
| Lawyers | Mr. Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, ASC, Raja Abdul Ghafoor, AOR, Mrs. Tasneem Amin, AOR, Ch. Muhammad Umar, Mr. Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, Addl. Attorney General for Pakistan, Barrister Menal Tariq, Mr. Qasim Ali Chohan, Addl. A.G. Pb., Mr. Shehryar Qazi, Addl. A.G. Sindh, Mr. Ayaz Swati, Addl. A.G. Balochistan, Syed Naveed Abbas, ASC, Mr. Aftab Mustafa, ASC, Mr. Waseem Hashmi, Advisor, HECP, Mr. Asif Munir, Director, HECP, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani, Sr. ASC, Dr. Khalid Ranjha, Sr. ASC, Mr. Bilal Ahmed Qazi, ASC, Mr. M. Akhtar Ali, ASC, Mr. Zafarullah Khan Khakwani, ASC, Dr. Amanullah, Mr. Munir Ahmed Khan Kakar, ASC, Raja Abdul Rehman, ASC, Mr. Waseem-ud-Din Khattak, ASC, Mr. Fawad Saleh, ASC, Mr. M. Faseeh-ud-Din Wardag, ASC, Mr. Hassan Fareed, Legal Advisor, Mr. M. Afzal Khan, ASC, Rana Ali Akbar, Adv., Sh. Irfan Akram, ASC, Mr. Ahmed Qayyum, ASC, Mr. Abbas Mirza, ASC, Barrister Adnan Sheikh, ASC, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Mohal, ASC, Malik Matiullah, ASC, Rai M. Nawaz Khan Kharral, ASC, Malik Akhtar Hussain Awan, Addl. A.G. KP. |
| Petitioners | Pakistan Bar Council through its Chairman |
| Respondents | Federal Government through Establishment Division and Others |
| Citations | 2018 SLD 2935, 2018 PLJ 815 |
| Other Citations | Pakistan Bar Council vs. The Federal Government & Others (PLD 2007 SC 394) |
| Laws Involved | Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002, Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Rules, 2015 |
| Sections | Not available |