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No Details Of Colleges Allowing Low Attendance Students To Give Exams: Bombay HC Closes PIL On Law Students' Absenteeism In Mumbai University
Sanjana Dadmi
24 April 2025 1:30 PM IST
The Bombay High Court on Thursday (April 24) disposed of a PIL that sought enforcement of mandatory attendance requirements among law students enrolled in various colleges affiliated with the Mumbai University.A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik did so after noting that the PIL petitioner did not provide any details of the colleges where students are allowed...
The Bombay High Court on Thursday (April 24) disposed of a PIL that sought enforcement of mandatory attendance requirements among law students enrolled in various colleges affiliated with the Mumbai University.
A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik did so after noting that the PIL petitioner did not provide any details of the colleges where students are allowed to take examinations without complying with the mandatory attendance requirement.
The PIL, filed by a law professor from Mumbai University, claimed that there was a significant discrepancy between the required attendance and the actual attendance of students, often falling below the stipulated mark, sometimes as low as 0% to 30%. The petition stated that Ordinance 6086 of the University of Mumbai mandates a minimum attendance of 75% during lectures, practical sessions, and tutorials for all law students.
The petition alleged that there is leniency observed in law colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai. It was claimed that despite obtaining undertakings from students regarding attendance compliance, colleges fail to take disciplinary action against defaulters, perpetuating a culture of absenteeism.
The petition stated Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules prohibit internships during academic sessions and mandate a minimum attendance of 70% for eligibility to take end-semester exams. However, colleges and students often disregard these regulations, leading to a deterioration in academic standards.
The High Court noted that the petitioner herself has not disclosed any names of students in her own college who attended exams without complying with attendance requirements.
It further noted that the information concerning the compliance with attendance requirements is pending before the authorities under the RTI Act. It stated that in the absence of particulars about colleges or students, it was not inclined to entertain the petition.
It thus disposed of the petition, while granting liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh petition after obtaining particulars.
Case title: Sharmila Ghuge vs. University of Mumbai (PIL No. 14 of 2024)
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Bom) 157