History and Vision


Banaras Hindu University is an internationally reputed temple of learning, situated in the holy city of Varanasi. This creative and innovative university was founded by the great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, in 1916 with the cooperation of great personalities like Dr. Annie Besant, who perceived it as the University of India. Banaras Hindu University was created under the Parliamentary Legislation - The B.H.U. Act 1915.

Founded by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji in 1916, Banaras Hindu University is one of the most prestigious Central Universities in the country. The University was conceived as a residential university, keeping in view its objective of complete character development and thorough mentoring of students. Perhaps this is the only University in the world where courses ranging from nursery and primary school up to Post Doctoral degrees are conducted and pursued within a walled campus spread over 550 hectares (1360 acres) with majestic buildings of great architectural delight.

It was Mahamana's vision that this center of life and light, would produce students who would not only be intellectually equal to the best of their fellow students in other parts of the world, but will also live a noble life, love their country and be loyal to the Supreme Ruler. He believed that a teaching university would but half perform its function if it does not seek to develop the heart power of its scholars with the same solicitude with which it develops their brain power. Hence, this university has placed the formation of character in youth as one of its principal objects.

BHU is ranked among the best universities in India in the field of research. Today, the university is known for its state-of-art campus, environment, standard academic facilities, values and culture. Being a part of this great and magnificent university housing unparalleled facilities and expertise of all kinds, the exposure and the scope of thinking of its students are enhanced. Banaras Hindu University is virtually a microcosm of the Universe.

Dharmo Vishwasya Jagatah Pratistha (Dharma Sustains the Whole Universe) is the motto of the Law School. The Law School of Banaras Hindu University, which is one of India’s leading law schools, is situated in one of the oldest living cities, Varanasi or Benaras (also known as Kashi). The Law School is situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges and in the Varanasi - the city known for spirituality, where life is obsessed with the unending search for truth and knowledge. The Law School is one of the leading faculties of Banaras Hindu University. It is the largest residential institution in Asia and holds third place in the overall ranking of universities in 2018 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings released by the HRD Ministry.

Law School BHU should be a pioneer institution of legal education in India with an excellent team of teachers and a selected student body, stressing individual attention and intensive as well as extensive study and thereby carrying further the all-important task of educational renaissance in the country in a manner befitting the monumental efforts of the founder of the University, Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya ji - Prof. Anand Jee, 'Dean's Report', (1965) 1 Banaras Law Journal 1, at 3.

The Law School is one of the earliest faculties established in the Banaras Hindu University. Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of this university, served for many years as Dean of the Law School. The legal luminaries like Sir Ras Behari Ghosh and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, were the earlier Deans.

The Law School has been a pioneer in introducing the full time three year LL.B. course and two year full time LL.M. programme. It has taken a lead and is perhaps the only law school in India to introduce the two years full time special courses of LL.M. in Human Rights and Duties Education. It is the first law school in India to introduce clinical legal education and legal aid programme to cater to the needs of the poor.

Law School BHU was one of the six universities in India to start Clinical Legal Services. The model developed by the Law School has been judged as the best model by Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India.

The Law School has developed a holistic approach towards understanding law and justice from a multi-disciplinary perspective. It offers various academic programmes to generate especially skilled global legal professionals. The Law School offers different and diverse courses in the field of law and justice. For the purpose of admissions at undergraduate level, two different kinds of LL.B. courses are available. Banaras Hindu University conducts two Undergraduate Entrance Tests (UET) during April/May every year [BLAT in case of B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and UET for LL.B. (Hons.)]. Admissions are made according to merit in the entrance exam, and fulfilling the eligibility requirements and availability of seats in the respective courses. These courses are :

Other courses available at the Law School :

In addition to the above come a number of students who are doing research work in areas such as Law of Taxation, Constitutional Law, Personal Laws, Intellectual Property Rights, International Law and many more subjects. The Law School publishes a highly acclaimed law journal since 1965 on bi-annual basis. Eminent Indian and foreign scholars contribute research papers for publication in the said journal i.e. the Banaras Law Journal. In order to promote research, various issues of the Banaras Law Journal are available on the Law School's website on open access mode. To promote skill of advocacy and love for legal profession amongst the students of the Law School, a Moot Court Society is established in the Law School. Students of the Law School participate in various national and international moot court competitions. We conduct two intra-law school moot court competitions and a national event called the Mahamana Malaviya National Moot Court Competition, on an annual basis.

Also, the Law School has taken a lead to introduce community oriented courses of law introducing Law of Environment, Law and Country and Town Planning, Law and Poverty, Law and Population, Animal Laws and many more which were unheard to most of the law colleges of India.

Our Assumptions: