Mumbai: The 152 year-old, Government Law College (GLC), at Church gate, is facing tough times these days.

On Thursday, a division bench chaired by chief justice Swatanter Kumar and justice J P Devendhar said that both the state government and Maharastra Public Service Commission (MPSC) have a 'careless attitude' towards one of the most prestigious law institute in the country.

Senior lawyer R.A. Dada also sent an SOS to the High Court, pointing out that "the apathy and deliberate inaction on part of the state government has resulted in our alma mater being brought to a state which has led to a breakdown in the education system".

The HC is now answering a plea by senior advocates and ex-students to save the GLC alleging neglect by the state government. They have also written a letter to Chief Minister on various issues concerning the institution.

They also say that the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), which conducts recruitments to the college, has not received a single request from the government for new staff at GLC since 2000.

It's worth mentioning here that GLC principal Pramila Rao has recently resigned from her post, expressing inability to run the college under the given situation.

At present, the college has 4 full-time lecturers for 1602 students - a ratio of 1:400, which is far from the acceptable teacher-student ratio of 1:40.

The post of English professor has been lying vacant after Dr. Shakuntala Bharwani retired in June 2007.

The institute has not appointed a librarian since 1993. The registrar's post is also vacant since 2000. Several others posts in various department too are to be filled up.