In a significant and potentially landmark judgment, the Delhi High Court on Monday ruled that no law student in India can be barred from examinations due to a shortage of attendance. The order was delivered by a bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma, in connection with a suo motu petition initiated by the Supreme Court following the tragic suicide of law student Sushant Rohilla in 2016.
Rohilla, a third-year student at Amity Law School, Delhi, had died by suicide on August 10, 2016, after being prohibited from appearing for his semester examinations due to inadequate attendance. His death prompted the Supreme Court to take up the issue, which was later transferred to the Delhi High Court in March 2017.
“Having considered the stark realities that have come to the surface, this court is of the strong view that educational norms, particularly in legal education, cannot be so rigid as to cause mental distress or, in extreme cases, lead to a student’s death,” the bench observed, according to media.
The court issued several key directions to the Bar Council of India (BCI), which regulates legal education in the country, urging it to review and revise mandatory attendance policies for law colleges. It also made it clear that students cannot be denied promotion to the next semester or barred from taking exams solely due to attendance shortages.
Directions Issued by the Court
The High Court directed the BCI to hold consultations with stakeholders, including students, teachers, and parents, to frame uniform attendance norms for all law institutions across India. The bench emphasized that the process should be completed expeditiously, keeping in mind the mental health and academic welfare of students.
Until new norms are finalized, the court ordered that no student enrolled in any recognized law college, university, or institution shall be prevented from appearing in examinations or progressing academically due to lack of attendance.
The court further clarified that no institution will be allowed to impose attendance requirements stricter than those prescribed by the BCI.
Implementation Measures
To ensure transparency and support for students, the bench directed all law institutions to:
- Publish weekly attendance updates on official online portals or mobile applications.
- Send monthly notifications to parents or guardians about attendance shortages.
- Arrange extra physical or online classes for students struggling to meet the attendance requirement.
The ruling is seen as a progressive step toward student welfare, addressing the growing concern around academic pressure and mental health in higher education institutions.