Delhi University Law Faculty Faces Potential Relocation from North Campus

One of Delhi University's most active centres of student politics in North Campus - a hub of Dusu activity that has produced not just student leaders but also some of the country's top lawyers, politicians and bureaucrats over the years - is being considered for relocation to the university's off-campus facilities, including East Campus (Surajmal Vihar) and West Campus (Dwarka).

An internal committee constituted by DU in March, notified internally, is examining a proposal to relocate or expand parts of the Faculty of Law to newer campuses. The nine-member panel, which includes South Campus director Rajni Abbi, has so far held one meeting.

University officials said an inspection of the law faculty infrastructure is scheduled Wednesday, following which the committee will take the discussions forward.

"Some committee members were occupied with other responsibilities. We now have to actively address the concerns," Dean of Students' Welfare Balram Pani said. "We have newer, better-equipped campuses. Our aim is that students are provided with improved infrastructure."

The proposal comes against the backdrop of long-standing infrastructure concerns at the Faculty of Law and ongoing litigation with Bar Council of India (BCI). Over the past decade, BCI has repeatedly flagged gaps in facilities and warned the university of withdrawal of affiliation if its norms aren't met.

Inspections have raised issues like shortage of classrooms, strain on library and seating capacity, and the need for improved facilities for practical legal training.

Under BCI's Legal Education Rules, institutions are required to maintain adequate built-up space, well-equipped classrooms, libraries with sufficient reading capacity, moot court halls, legal aid clinics and an appropriate student-teacher ratio.

BCI has stressed that infrastructure must support both academic and clinical components of legal education.

At present, the Faculty of Law operates from two primary buildings in North Campus -- the historic Law Faculty building on Chhatra Marg, established in 1924, and Umang Bhawan, a multi-storey complex added in 2015 to accommodate expansion.

The Campus Law Centre, along with Law Centre-I and Law Centre-II, function from these premises.

Despite Umang Bhawan's addition, infrastructure-related complaints have continued over the years, particularly with increasing student intake, putting pressure on classrooms and common facilities.

Committee members indicated these constraints formed the basis for setting up the panel.

"There have been discussions on whether relocation to better-equipped campuses should be considered," a member of the committee said, not wishing to be quoted.

Uday Prajapati, vice-president of the Campus Law Centre-I students' association, said, "They are trying to keep us away from the main campus to stifle student politics. We raised our concerns with the dean, who told us such a move will not happen, but teachers have indicated that parts of the faculty may be relocated. We will strongly oppose any such decision."