Take Concrete Decision So That No Student Is Excluded From CLAT Due To Language Barrier: Delhi High Court To Consortium Of NLUs
The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) to take a concrete decision so that no student giving Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) entrance examination is excluded due to language barrier. A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a public interest litigation seeking a direction that CLAT...
The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) to take a concrete decision so that no student giving Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) entrance examination is excluded due to language barrier.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a public interest litigation seeking a direction that CLAT exam be conducted not only in English but also in other regional languages, as mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.
“We expect that by the next date of listing, some concrete decision qua the grievances raised in this petition shall be taken so that no exclusion on account of any barrier of a particular language occurs for those, who seek admission to law courses in the National Law University throughout the country,” the Court said.
The counsel for the Consortium told Court that a High Powered Advisory Board has made certain recommendations, however, the matter is still under consideration qua the prayer made in the PIL. Some more time was prayed for arriving at a final decision.
Granting eight weeks' time to the Consortium, the Court reiterated that while taking such a decision, the Consortium shall be guided by the observations made in a previous order wherein it was emphasized that the English cannot be an entry barrier for students who are instructed in other regional languages.
The matter will now be heard on August 20.
“It is necessary to emphasize that the language in which the entrance exam to national law universities (CLAT) is conducted cannot be a barrier for students who are instructed in other languages. To that extent, the petitioner has highlighted the issue that conducting the entrance exam in regional languages in some sections may be necessary for larger inclusion,” the Court had previously said.
Earlier, the Consortium of NLUs expressed reluctance in conducting CLAT in regional languages. It said translating AIBE exam is easy but CLAT exam involves "much more issues" in translation.
On the other hand, BCI said conducting CLAT in regional languages will give opportunities to more citizens to pursue law as a career.
Case Title: SUDHANSHU PATHAK v. CONSORTIUM OF NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITIES THROUGH SECRETARY & ORS
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 519