NLU Delhi students write open letter to High Court
Over 145 past and present students from the National Law University, Delhi (NLUD) have addressed an open letter to the Delhi High Court, urging the chief justice and the High Court judges to intervene against the proposed 50 percent reservation for applicants who are residents of Delhi. In the letter students have raised their concern regarding the adverse effects of the January 14 notification on the “National character of NLUD”.
The letter reads: “We fear that instead of remaining an ‘elite’ institution of learning, the effect of the notification would be to make it an ‘elitist’ one. You will no doubt forgive us for the impertinence of writing an open letter to you, but we beg to take the liberty to insist that what is at stake is not only the future of our institution, but also of the ‘NLU Model’ itself, which has for long been considered as a means to bring legal education at par with other streams of technical education, both in terms of quality and public perception….”
The letter adds that the notification can raise safety issues for women applicants and disproportionately impact the number of female applicants, and worsen the already skewed sex ratio prevailing within the university.
The letter also points to the lack of infrastructure and faculty strength at NLU Delhi to cater to an increased student population of 123.
“An increase from the present strength of 83 will severely impact the quality of learning within the institution, thus defeating the purpose behind the establishment of our university,” the letter read.
Alumni meet at NLIU Bhopal
The National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU) Alumni Cell and Alumni Association will host the fifth alumni meet over February 14-16, 2020. The three-day event will witness various fun-filled activities, as the alumni take a trip down memory lane.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof V Vijayakumar, will open the meet by giving an address to welcome the alumni. In the evening, the alumni and faculty will reconnect and reminisce over dinner, and enjoy an evening of social and intellectual engagement.
Day two will start with a panel discussion, where a diverse line up will seek to inspire and empower students on their journey to success.
At the end of the day, the alumni can sit back and enjoy a cultural evening when the students will showcase their talents in dance, music, comedy and poetry.
On the last day, the Alumni Cell will conduct Alumni Association elections. The alumni present will cast their votes to determine the new president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Post-elections, the cell will organise sporting events to foster connection between the students and alumni and encourage a healthy competitive spirit.
The three-day affair will conclude with valedictory ceremony and vote of thanks.
Two Bronzes for NLU Odisha student
Prachi Chowdhary, a first-year student of National Law University, Odisha, has won two bronze medals in Lawn Bowls Women’s Fours and Triples at the National Khelo India Youth Games hosted in Assam over January 10-22, 2020.
Lawn bowls is a unique sport introduced in the Khelo India Games for the first time. It is usually played on a large, rectangular, precisely levelled and manicured grass or synthetic surface known as a bowling green which is divided into parallel playing strips called rinks.
Chowdhary says: “The experience of representing not just her state but the University and family was truly exhilarating.” She further adds that the game helped her to increase her focus and concentration.
Chaudhary represented West Bengal at the games.
CAN Foundation announces Project Dhananjay
In its flagship project, the Confederation of Alumni for National Law Universities (CAN) Foundation is launching Project Dhananjay to aid new entrants from economically weaker backgrounds in a career of litigation.
The project aims to provide an incubatory period to budding, meritorious law graduates (from economically weaker sections of society), who have the potential to raise the standards of the Bar in multiple ways. Under this project, a monthly stipend will be provided to the scholars who are selected by a highpowered expert panel after a month-long two-tier selection process.
This monthly stipend will be provided as a “sustenance allowance” for the initial one year (or two years) of their practice in courts of law.
Kartavya—first NLUO-SMC state- level video making competition
The Social Media Committee (SMC) of the National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) has announced its first ever state-level video making competition, “Kartavya”.
NLUO, being the coordinating university for Odisha for the 70th Constitution Day year-long celebration, is organising the competition.
NLUO aims to sensitise, cherish and abide by the noble ideas enshrined in the Indian Constitution with this competition. The theme for the competition is fundamental duties.
The competition is open for all undergraduates and postgraduate students from any recognised uni-versity/college across the state of Odisha (except National Law University, Odisha).
Students can win cash prizes worth Rs 14,000 and certificates of excellence and merit.
The last date for submission of videos is April 4, 2020. Interested students can fill in the registration form on the university website.
—Compiled by Nupur Dogra