SRINAGAR: The Delhi High Court has ruled that no student enrolled in any recognised law college, university or institution in India shall be stopped from sitting examinations due to an attendance shortage, issuing landmark directions to protect student welfare and mental health. A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma held that stringent attendance norms risk causing severe mental trauma and academic setbacks, citing the tragic suicide of Amity Law School student Sushant Rohilla in 2016, a case that prompted the court’s suo motu action.
Issuing the verdict on Monday, the High Court made clear that no law student’s progression to the next semester or participation in career advancement should be hindered due to insufficient attendance. It directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to re-evaluate and modify mandatory attendance rules for both three-year and five-year law programmes, allowing flexibility in line with the National Education Policy and UGC guidelines. The court also ordered that student attendance notifications must be sent to both students and their guardians, and mandated the constitution of student-majority grievance redressal commissions in law colleges, universities and institutions.
The bench emphasised that legal education should be multi-dimensional, incorporating practical experience beyond mere classroom presence. While colleges may deduct up to 5 per cent of marks or 0.33 per cent of CGPA as a penalty for non-compliance, no student can be barred from examinations or forced to repeat an academic year over attendance alone. The matter was closed after the court directed the BCI and all law schools to implement the new guidelines within three months, and set February 2026 for a review of compliance.
