The Sikh Students Federation and students of Punjabi University, today, launched a signature drive to show their protest against the decision of Bar Council of India to ignore Punjabi as a medium for All India Bar Examination to be held by BCI on 5 December. Previously students, in form of two separate delegations, approached Dr. Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University and Dr. Upinderjeet Kaur, Education Minister, Punjab to seek their intervention. “Both, the Education Minister and University Vice-Chancellor, have written in this regard to the BCI. Dr. Upinderjeet Kaur has even raised the issue with India’s HRD Minister, Mr. Kapil Sibbal” informed Akashdeep Singh and Harjeet Singh, who were members of both the delegations.
Talking about the objective behind today’s signature drive, SSF President Parmjeet Singh Gazi said ‘The motive is to raise the concern of thousands of students with the BCI directly, as all signatures shall be sent to the Chairman of BCI.’ He further informed that SSF is planning to send a delegation to meet BCI chairman and demand rectification.
It is notable that BCI has decided to conduct an examination (AIEB) before granting License of legal practitioner to the Law graduates. Whereas the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana is opposing the examination itself, another controversy surrounded the AIBE, when students came to know that Punjabi was not included as an optional medium, while many regional languages such Tamil, Kannar, Gujjrati, Marathi, Oriya and Bengali were recognized for the purpose.
Many students of Law department including Lakhwinder Singh and Amrinder Singh said that the decision of BCI would discourage students to opt Punjabi as their medium of instruction even for LL.B course, therefore its’ rectification is must. “Punjabi is our mother language and we are shocked that it is ignored by BCI, while now even UPSC recognize it for Civil Services Examination.” said Gurpartap Singh, another student of the University.