CLAT 2012 flouted its own norms?
By Ruchi Shrimali
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2012 was conducted on May 13, 2012. About 26,000 aspiring lawyers took the test this year across 40 centres in 20 cities. About 25 questions in the paper were out of syllabus. CLAT holds the key to 14 most reputed law schools in India and yet, its question paper this year was such a disappointment for examinees that they are planning to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against it.
Some of the students' grievances:
- CLAT website clearly mentioned that General Knowledge or Current Affairs questions will be based on ‘matters featured in mainstream media between March 2011 and March 2012'. Yet, about 35 questions were based on static GK.
- Similarly, the website stated that the Legal Aptitude section will ‘not require any prior knowledge of law or legal concepts'. It had stated that legal terms used in the paper will be explained in the question paper. But this was not adhered to. Legal propositions on which the questions were based in the section were not explained in many cases. Read more
Students want such questions be declared void. However, National Law University, Jodhpur - the organiser of CLAT 2012 - is adamant that the exam is well within the framework and has been set by experts of high reputation. The vice chancellor of NLU Jodhpur also said that he does not have the power to declare questions void after the exam is over. See what NLU Jodhpur has to say
Even though CLAT 2012 did not adhere to the notification it had issued earlier, academic experts feel that it was tad easier than usual. English, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning sections were on expected lines and had low level of difficulty. Current Affairs questions were of average difficulty. But inclusion of static GK questions and questions that required prior knowledge of law was quite a surprise and may result in higher CLAT cutoffs this year as compared to CLAT 2011.
CLAT 2012 results will be unveiled on May 28th. Students, who make it to the first merit list, will have to deposit the fees at their respective institutes by 4 pm on June 9. See details
Other interesting reads:
- Beside CLAT, which are the other entrance exams held for law aspirants?
- Law Schools across India
