New Delhi: The Bar Council of India's (BCI) decision to introduce age-bar in Law colleges all over India has created havoc amongst the students as well as the teaching community.

The new rule has raked in lot of controversy and the students and teachers want proper debate before it gets implemented. As per the new rule, candidate should not be above 20 years to join the five-year integrated LLB course after class 12th and not beyond 30 years to join the three-year LLB course for which bachelor's degree is prerequisite.

BCI is the apex body who decides the norms and rules governing legal education in India and their decision is binding to all the law-teaching institutions.

"Decisions related to change have to be gradual, well thought of and consensual. Colleges, teachers, students, principal and lawyers should be part of the decision making process," avers Vijay Ghormade, Principal, G. J .Advani Law College.

"The council wants to improve the standards of legal education and it should be at par with medical and engineering education. However, SC/ST and OBC students are given some relief, who can join a five-year course at 22 and three-year course at the age of 35 " said J R Beniwal, Vice- chairperson, BCI.

But law colleges and lawyers say that the rule sparks off 'discrimination' and violates the right to equality and practice a profession of one's choice.