Judges should submit to refresher courses: PM

NEW DELHI - Judges and other legal professionals should submit themselves to periodic refresher courses “without standing on pomp or seniority” to keep abreast of the “paradigm shift” in “the very nature of law”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Saturday.

“One expects even experienced and established legal luminaries, judges and other law professionals to submit to periodic and continuing legal education programmes without standing on pomp or seniority. After all, this is common place in other advanced countries of the world,” he said while inaugurating the National Consultation for Second Generation Reforms in Legal Education here.

He pointed out the “revolutionary changes” taking place in information systems, communications and technology that required “corresponding changes” in India’s legal system.

“Highly specialized areas of law such as intellectual property law, corporate law, cyber law, cyber crimes, human rights law and international commercial law require specialized training and skills that should be imparted by our law schools.

“The opening of trade and capital markets as a result of the processes of globalization and the retreat of the State from some of its traditional roles have raised new legal issues concerning the way in which the poor and marginalized sections can protect themselves from the adverse effects of these changes.

“The very nature of law, of legal institutions and the practice of law are in the throes of a paradigm shift,” Manmohan Singh added.