Supreme Court Declines to Mandate Reduction of Five-Year LL.B. Course to Four Years

The Supreme Court observed that it cannot impose its views on legal education policy while hearing a PIL seeking to reduce the integrated LL.B. course duration from five years to four.

The Bench noted that such changes require broad consultation among academicians, jurists, and the BCI, rather than judicial diktats.

Petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay argued that the current five-year structure creates an excessive financial burden and discourages talent compared to other professional courses. The Court questioned why universities haven't initiated these changes independently if they are opposed to the length.

The matter is listed for further consideration in April 2026.

[In re: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. UOI]