The Delhi High Court has ruled that no law student studying in any recognised college or university should be barred from appearing in examinations or progressing to the next semester solely because of a shortage of attendance. The court stated that while attendance is an important part of academic discipline, it should not be enforced so strictly that it harms a student’s future or causes mental distress.
It emphasised that legal education is not limited to classroom presence but also includes internships, moot courts, debates, court visits and other practical learning. The court directed that institutions cannot set attendance requirements higher than those prescribed by the Bar Council of India and may only impose minor academic penalties, such as a small deduction in marks, instead of stopping students from taking exams.
Colleges and universities have been asked to regularly inform students and their parents about attendance status, provide remedial or extra classes for students with low attendance, and establish grievance redressal committees to address student concerns and mental well-being. The court also instructed the Bar Council of India to review and update its attendance rules in consultation with stakeholders to align them with modern education standards.
