Delhi High Court restricts law intern entry passes to third, fourth, and fifth-year students

The Delhi High Court has issued a significant administrative circular that tightens the eligibility criteria for law students seeking entry passes and ID cards to intern with advocates at the court. The new rules restrict such passes to only third-year students of the three-year LL.B. course and fourth- and fifth-year students of the five-year integrated law course. The circular, issued under the directions of the Hon’ble Chief Justice, aims to streamline the process and ensure that only senior law students are granted access.

New Eligibility Criteria

The circular explicitly states that henceforth, entry passes/ID cards for law students doing internship with advocates will be issued only to the following two categories: - Third-year students of the 3-Year LL.B. course - Fourth-year and Fifth-year students of the 5-Year Integrated Law Course

This move comes as a measure to regulate the entry of interns into the court premises, focusing on students who have already completed a significant portion of their legal education.

Required Documentation

In addition to the eligibility restrictions, the court has laid down a clear list of documents that every intern must submit for the issuance of the entry pass/ID card. These include: 1. Recommendation letter from the concerned advocate along with his/her Bar Council's enrollment number 2. Photocopy of the Bar ID of the advocate 3. Photocopy of the intern’s Aadhar card 4. Photocopy of the intern’s college ID card 5. Two stamp-size photographs of the intern

The court has clarified that these passes and ID cards are issued free of charge, emphasizing that no fee is to be paid for obtaining them.

Implications for Law Students and the Bar

The circular is likely to impact a large number of law students aspiring to gain practical experience through internships at the Delhi High Court. By restricting passes to advanced-year students, the court appears to prioritize students who are closer to completing their law degrees. This may also reduce the number of interns entering the court, potentially easing security and administrative burdens.

The Delhi High Court Bar Association has been requested to bring the contents of the circular to the attention of its members and to refrain from issuing identity cards or entry passes to students interning with advocates, ensuring that the court’s new norms are uniformly followed.

Key Observations from the Circular

" Entry passes / ID Cards for law students doing internship with Advocates shall be issued by this Court only to the following categories of law students: Third-year students of the 3-Year LL.B. course ; and Fourth-year and Fifth-year students of the 5-Year Integrated Law Course ."

"It is clarified that the entry passes / ID Cards are issued by this Court without any charge/fee ."

These statements from the circular underscore the court's intent to create a structured and transparent system for internship access.

Conclusion

The Delhi High Court’s circular marks a notable shift in its policy regarding law intern entry passes. By clearly defining eligible categories and mandatory documentation, the court aims to enhance security, reduce administrative complications, and ensure that only serious intern candidates, in the advanced stages of their law studies, are granted access. The move is expected to bring uniformity and efficiency to the process of internship at the High Court.