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Introduction: LEGAL
EDUCATION IN THANE: AN ASPIRATION FULFILLED 
Vidya
Prasarak Mandal, the parent body of this college, was founded way back in 1935.
However, the real impetus to all its activities came only on 29th Sept., 1957
when Dr. V. N. Bedekar was elected as the President of V.P.M in the historic annual
general meeting held on that day.
The birth centenary of the great national leader Lokmanya Tilak was being celebrated
in the then Bombay Province during the year 1956. Lokmanya Tilak’s seminal
contribution to the field of education was discussed and pondered over by a few
visionaries in the context of the post-independence scenario with a number of
new ideas. Dr. V.N. Bedekar and some of his close friends like Late. Shri Gunakar
N.Joshi, Shri. K. G. Joshi, Late . ‘Janakavi’ P. Savlaram & Shri
R.A.Kulkarni, were among such inspired souls whose capacity to cherish lofty dreams
knew no bounds. That was exactly why Dr. Bedekar along with his friends decided
to explore the various possibilities of widening the scope of the existing activities
of the Vidya Prasarak Mandal in the field of Education.
Foundation of Vidya Prasarak Mandal’s schools & colleges.
Between 1935 & 1957, despite a large number of financial & other constraints,
the Vidya Prasarak Mandal had succeeded in starting and developing a primary school
in Naupada area of Thane. Not shattered by the difficulties & challenges,
the dedicated pioneers housed the school in a cowshed to start with & now
the school has a classical building. Later a Secondary school has also been established.
By the late
sixties, there was not a single college in the district of Thane & more than
two thousand students had to travel to Mumbai to pursue higher studies after higher
secondary. Education became inaccessible to vast poor masses. “If
the poor cannot come to education, education must reach them”- Vivekananda.
Vidya Prasarak
Mandal negotiated with Pune University and the main obstacle in the path of starting
the college was appropriate land to accommodate the college building. Vidya Prasarak
Mandal urged the state government to come for aid and for the great cause, Maharashtra
government granted a 10 acre plot of land to Vidya Prasarak Mandal where K.G.Joshi
College of Arts commenced in 1969; and subsequently about 31/2 acres of contiguous
land in 1978. With funds through donation by President’s father Late Shri
N.G. Bedekar , Commerce College was started . Enthralled by the earnest purpose,
the then Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Dayanand Bandodkar donated Rs. 320,000 to
Vidya Prasarak Mandal for the Science wing . In the same year 1969, all the 3
colleges had their beginning.
The birth of VPM’S TMC Law College.
Vidya Prasarak Mandal sensitive and responsive to the educational needs and demands
of the town added a new feather to its cap by starting this Law College. VPM’s
Law College was dedicated to the students’ community in 1972 . The college
is named after the then Thane Muncipal Council which donated a sum of Rs.2 lakhs
to the college. Till 1974 the college was affiliated to Pune University. Thereafter
it continues to be an affiliated college of the University of Mumbai. Professional
Legal education became accessible to the people of Thane . Since then , the college
has been receiving rousing response from the graduates of Thane town and around.
The college is located in VPM’s campus which houses a vast range of academic
institutes. The college has its independent building in the campus which is in
Bunder Road, Chendani, near Thane Railway Station ,Thane west.
Uptill June 1999, the college was functioning on the ‘no grant basis’
without financial aid from the government. However in 1999 financial aid was granted
to this college with retrospective effect from 1995-96 in compliance with the
1995 Supreme Court decision .Despite that fact, the college has adequately catered
to the needs of qualitative legal education. This institution has produced thousands
of lawyers in the last thirty two years who occupy eminent positions in various
fields. This fact is ample proof to testify our service. The graduates who throng
our college counters for admissions inspire us more and we are striving harder
to achieve better excellence.
Our Goals and objectives
The VPM’S TMC Law College is one of the several educational institutions
established in Thane by the Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Thane. The objectives of the
Vidya Prasarak Mandal to the extent applicable are the objectives of this college
. Founded in
1935, the objectives of Vidya Prasarak Mandal stated in the trust deed are the
following : (i)
To provide to the people residing in Thane city and its vicinity, facilities for
their intellectual , physical , scientific , social , cultural , professional
education , to give publicity for the same , to establish and operate conducive
factors for the above , for example Parent – Teacher association , store
for educational supplies and thereby to add to the knowledge of the people.
VPM’sTMC Law College
(ii) To emphasize the need for industrial
knowledge and for the purpose of providing educational facilities for the same,
to start and operate various undertakings such as Industrial Educational Institutes,
Polytechnic, Engineering College etc. (iii)
To cooperate with other Public Institutions on special occasions with the view
to attaining the above mentioned purpose .
This college was established to provide to local people desirous of pursuing Law
as a career an avenue and easy access to legal education . The goals and objectives
are bold and clear in the very foundation of the institution which are as follows:
(i) To provide
qualitative legal education particularly to the residents of Thane and its vicinity. (ii)
To provide training in the skills essential for practitioners of law.
(iii) To inculcate discipline, values and a sense of social responsibility.
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Profile
at a glance Name
of the college & address:
VPM'S TMC Law College
Chendani, Bunder Road,
Thane (west) - 400 601 Date
of establishment : June, 1972 Location
of the college: Urban Financial
category: Grant in aid Type
of college Affiliated to University of Mumbai:
Permanent affiliation status Professional
Body Recognition : Recognized
by Bar Council of India since 1972
Assessed
& Accredited by NAAC As C+ (2004) | 
