Shri. Prasanth Nair, is a 2007 Batch Kerala Cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, who is presently serving as Managing Director of Government owned KTDC Hotels and Resorts. He is an alumnus of Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram (2000-2005).
Given below is the transcript of his interview with Nebil Nizar.
1. How law students can positively engage in nation building and make a difference?
Prasanth Nair: In a single sentence, get educated and stop wasting time on frivolous things! Unless you value your time and value yourselves, leave nation building, even body building is a difficult task. What is lacking in most law students is primarily, humility and the ability to acknowledge others' knowledge. Arrogance and a closed mind cripples even the best minds. A modern India requires legal experts and practitioners who are open to ideas and changes, not those who are fossilized in time.
2. When did you start your preparations for Civil Services?
Prasanth Nair: I wanted to join the IAS when I was probably in the 10th or so. I must have started mentally preparing for it. Conscious syllabus based preparations were made after I joined GLC as 1st year student in the 5yr course.
3. How should a student of Law study if he is aiming for Civil Service Exam?
Prasanth Nair: Study the syllabus and the exam first. After he studies the exam, he can easily study for the exam. Take part in Moot Court competitions as that will help you sharpen your presentation skills, besides getting you attendance! In Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram, there are lots of things that are in your advantage while preparing for such an exam. Make most of it.
4. It is frequently asked question by law students whether LL.M or civil service preparation must be undertaken first. What do you think?
Prasanth Nair:I wonder why law students have such questions!
I prepared for Civil Service when I was doing my 4th year B.A.L, LL.B and I appeared for the IAS interview based on my B.A.L degree, an year before I completed my course. Let us not complicate things by thinking too much on what to do first. It is all about priority. If you want to prepare you can do it even while doing your graduation. If you are a doubting Thomas, even after your PhD, you'll think what next.
5. Do you think that serving the corporate sector would instill professionalism in a young man?
Prasanth Nair:Not necessarily. Many people without exposure to both government and private sector fall for this fad. Professionalism is a function of your mind and attitude, apart from sound training. The numerous reported instances of corporate corruption, mis-governance, insider trading, lobbying and even high profile cases of corruption related to purposeful skewing of Government policies show the dark side of corporate administration.
6. It is seen that persons learned in law engage in many jobs without any other professional training and succeeds in that, be it Business, Journalism, Politics etc. Do you think that a law degree moulds a teen into a man?
Prasanth Nair: LL.B is all about law, the rules of the game called life in this country. Knowing the rules of the game naturally makes him a better player, no matter where the game is played. The years spent in the Law College indeed gives a man or a woman the exposure of a life time to a wide cross section of the society.
7. Did your study of law helped you in any ways when you successfully discharged your duties as an officer of IAS?
Prasanth Nair: Of course. Administration is implementation of law and clear knowledge of law and the procedures is a great help. The initial appointment as Sub Divisional Magistrate was a chance for direct application of law and the legal process which I thoroughly enjoyed. Knowledge of law also empowers you. I honestly felt that it made me the most powerful SDM in Kerala at that time! Knowing law also helps one manouvre through the complex labyrinth of administration.
8. Do you think that legal education needs a change in India?
Prasanth Nair: Legal education and the profession needs to get a thorough shakeup in India. Coteries and families alone cannot dictate the terms of the profession any longer. Genuine talent and hard work should be rewarded promptly as is the case in western countries. Efficiency and delivery of results should become the goal of the justice machinery and education should also be attuned to that effect, instead of teaching tactics to delay cases. Often it is said that what is taught in the college has hardly any relevance in the Court of practice. More avenues for corporate lawyers is slowly weaning away the brighter elements amongst the law students from court practice. This is more so because the initial years are difficult. Probably ensuing competition from opening up of legal services under international obligations would bring justice to ordinary but talented legal practitioners. Both corporate as well as court practitioners. It could gradually change the focus of legal education to a more utilitarian and practical method.
9. What is your advice to law students?
Prasanth Nair: Though we study a lot on justice and fairness, nothing is more unfair as is the life of a law student after graduation- that is unless we make a definitive move. If one chooses to flow with the tide, you are not going to be taken anywhere in this profession. There are a whole lot of avenues waiting just for a capable law graduate. Whether one ends up as a Supreme Court Judge or as a small time practitioner in a lower Court or a clerical staff or a file pushing bureaucrat, let us remember that we take pride in saying that 'I studied law', as if we know all the law in this world. Not as an advice, but as a suggestion to my brethren in this field, may I reiterate the need for humility and inquisitiveness which alone can make one successful. For we always remain students of law and we can never rightfully claim that we studied law!
(Originally published at http://glctvpmlaw.blogspot.in/2012/11/llb-is-all-about-law-rules-of-game.html)
