Karnatak Law Society’s Raja Lakhamgouda Law College, Belagavi
About College
In the glorious history of our freedom struggle, lawyers of Belagavi District played a remarkable role. Distinguished lawyers and freedom fighters of North Karnataka realised the importance of legal education in North Karnataka. As there was no law college in North Karnataka, one had to go to Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur or Chennai for legal education. This made legal education expensive and difficult to get. Thanks to the endeavour and enterprise of the founder members of Karnatak Law Society which was established in the year 1939, who kept before them an ideal of producing good lawyers, able administrators and astute politicians. In pursuance of this ideal, the Society established a law college in November, 1939. Today, the society enjoys the distinction of running the reputed colleges in this part of the country.
The Growth
It was a glorious day in the infant life of the College when the then Diwan of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail formally inaugurated the functioning of the College in the new premises in 1940.
Shreemant Rajasaheb Lakhamgouda Sirdesai of Wantmoori, who was known for his munificent donations, donated a huge sum to the College and the college was named after him as “Raja Lakhamgouda Law College”.
In the history of legal education R. L. Law College has contributed the most competent personalities both to the Bench and the Bar. It has done yeoman service to the cause of legal education in this part of the country. It was started with a view, inter alia, to diffuse knowledge of law in the general public and to train graduates in law.
Within a short period, the college built up its reputation so well that students from many parts of the country sought admission to this College.
It was initially affiliated to the Bombay University, and after the establishment of Karnatak University R. L. Law College was affiliated to the Karnatak University, Dharwad. It is now affiliated to the Karnatak State Law University, Hubballi. R. L. Law College is imparting education in the Three-Year Law Degree Course (LL.B.). and for Five-Year Law Degree Courses (B.A., LL.B. and B.B.A., LL.B.).
The College has also achieved excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities. Passing percentage of the students of R. L. Law College has always been significantly great compared that of the Karnatak State Law University. Our sportsmen and women have represented the University at Inter-University level and have exhibited their talents.
The College is situated in a spacious campus in Tilakwadi, a suburb of Belagavi. Teaching staff of the College is highly qualified, efficient, experienced and dedicated.
Our Glory
During nearly seven decades and half of the College existence, good number of past students have earned reputation as lawyers and many of them have occupied the highest positions in the judiciary, legislature and executive. Many students have occupied higher positions in Government, Defence, Public Limited Companies, Political Administration, various Banks in India and abroad. Many students have earned fames in the fields of sports, cinema, literature, etc.
The College has developed excellent infrastructure. It has spacious smart classrooms, dedicated moot court hall, well equipped computer labs, Wi-Fi enabled campus, gymkhana, gymnasium, playground, library building, a canteen, CCTV surveillance, specious vehicle parking facilities, garden, boys hostel and girls hostel with medical facility, etc.
The College Library has rich collection of books and journals for learning and research. It has a collection of 30,000 books. The College subscribes to 64 journals, newspapers and periodicals relating to profession, general knowledge and general reading. To a greater extent the library work has been computerised. There is also a facility in the form of digital library available at the computer laboratory, where students can have access to the question papers of past examinations, 12,000 eBooks, 3,250 bare Acts, 80,000 case-laws and the complete Debates of the Constituent Assembly and up-to-date reports of the Law Commission of India. They can access these off-line and also on-line through the internet facility.
The College gymkhana and gymnasium are well equipped to train students for different indoor games and spend time during leisure hours. With a modest playground we have facility for athletics and outdoor sports. The college is proud to boast of producing many university blues in the past. Our teams have won many trophies and championships. Some of our boys and girls have excelled in their performance in State and National level sports.
Both girls and boys coming from out-side have hostel facility.
Endowment Prizes
Every year college announces and awards Sri M. K. Nambyar Gold Medal worth about Rs. 50,000 for scoring the highest number of marks in Constitutional Subject along with various other Endowment prizes to the students who score highest number of marks in various subjects and also for other academic achievements.
M. K. Nambyar National Level Moot Court Competition
A proud alumnus Sri K. K. Venugopal, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court has created an endowment in the name of his late father Sri M. K. Nambyar to conduct every year a national level moot court competition. Around 100 mooters from different parts of the India have been participating in this competition every year. In a very short span of 4 years the competition has raised to the level of National recognition.
Majali and Bembalgi Rolling Shield Debate in English and Kannada Competition
Our College has been conducting prestigious State Level Majali and Bembalgi Rolling Shield Debate Competitions in English and Kannada languages every year. Winners are awarded a Rolling Shield.
Management Fest
Our College has been organising an In-house Management Fest for our students, having various competitions for their learning through extra-curricular activities every year.