Legal Education in Thane: An Aspiration Fulfilled

The parent body of this institution, Vidya Prasarak Mandal (VPM), was founded in 1935. The real impetus to its educational activities came on 29th September 1957, when Dr. V. N. Bedekar was elected President at the annual general meeting.

In 1956, during the birth-centenary celebrations of Lokmanya Tilak, a group of visionaries — including Dr. Bedekar, Shri Gunakar N. Joshi, Shri K. G. Joshi, ‘Janakavi’ P. Savlaram and Shri R. A. Kulkarni — resolved to expand VPM’s educational mission in independent India. They envisioned a broad-based institution that would serve the educational needs of Thane and nearby areas.

Between 1935 and 1957, under challenging financial and infrastructural circumstances, VPM succeeded in establishing a primary school in Naupada (initially housed in a cowshed), which has since developed into a proper building. A secondary school followed later.

By the late 1960s, the district of Thane lacked even a single college. As a result, over two thousand students had to travel to Mumbai for higher studies — making access to education difficult for many. Motivated by the principle “If the poor cannot come to education, education must reach them,” the founders sought to open a college locally.

VPM negotiated with the authorities and, with support from the Government of Maharashtra, acquired a 10-acre plot of land (in 1969) where several colleges began — including arts, commerce, and science. Later, about 3.5 acres of contiguous land was allotted in 1978.

On this foundation, VPM’s TMC Law College was established in June 1972, to make legal education accessible to the residents of Thane and its neighbourhood. The college is named after the then Thane Municipal Council (TMC), which donated one lakh rupees towards its foundation.

Initially, until 1974, the college was affiliated to Pune University; since then, it has been permanently affiliated to University of Mumbai. The college is recognised by Bar Council of India (BCI).

Until June 1999, the college functioned on a “no-grant” basis — without financial aid from the government. In 1999, financial aid was granted (with retrospective effect from 1995–96), in compliance with a Supreme Court directive. Despite these early challenges, the college has successfully provided quality legal education, producing thousands of lawyers over five decades, many of whom hold eminent positions in various fields.