Delhi HC Permits DU To Admit 2310 Students To LL.B Course

In an interim order, the Delhi High Court today asked Delhi University’s Faculty of Law to admit 2310 students to its LL.B. course.

“Why people should be penalized? Let them study. Give them a chance to study. If people want to study from there (DU), let them. Don't reduce the capacity at this juncture. You cannot cut down the seats in the Law Faculty because other have started private institutions. They (DU) have a larger capacity. They have a great faculty,” the Bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Vinod Goel was quoted as saying.

It brushed aside the BCI’s objections that DU did not have enough permanent teachers or infrastructure, saying “don't create a ghost where there is none”.

“They (Law Faculty) will ensure there are sufficient teachers. They are not a private university, so do not treat it like one. They get grant from the University Grants Commission, their accounts are audited, they will ensure the teaching faculty,” the Court further said.

DU has now been asked to file its response on the issues raised by the BCI Standing and Inspection Committees, with the Court having listed the matter for hearing on August 21.

The order came on a Petition filed by Advocate Joginder Kumar Sukhija, challenging the Bar Council of India’s decision to reduce the number of seats to 1,440 owing to lack of infrastructure and teaching faculty at the University.

The Petition further challenges the cap of 300 students per law centre, contending that a large number of students would be adversely affected by the decision. It has further submitted that by reducing the seats, the public money which was utilized in providing grants to the varsity would not be put to optimal use. It has, therefore, sought that Rule 5-A of the Legal Education Rules, be declared as arbitrary, capricious and violative of the Fundamental Rights.