Imminent Need To Reconsider Mandatory Attendance Norms In Colleges: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that there is an imminent need to have reconsideration of mandatory attendance norms in undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

A division bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma said that it intends to form a Committee to study various factors and to place a report as to what uniform practices can be evolved for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in respect of attendance requirements.

“There is an imminent need, therefore, to have reconsideration of norms of attendance in general, whether it ought to be made mandatory at all or what should be the minimum required standards of attendance or should attendance be encouraged rather than penalties being imposed for lack of attendance etc,” the court said.

The bench further added that the issue of mandatory attendance is a cause for concern in the younger generation who perceive the same in a completely different manner than was traditionally thought.

It added that mental health of students, which is also affected due to the mandatory attendance norms needs, must be borne in mind while reconsidering attendance requirements.

“The role of grievance redressal mechanisms in educational institutions and their establishment is required to be streamlined. There may be a need for making a distinction between professional and non- professional courses so far as attendance requirements is concerned,” the court said.

The bench was dealing with a suo motu case concerning the suicide of Sushant Rohilla, a student of Amity Law School, Delhi. 

His friend wrote a letter to then CJI alleging that Rohilla was subjected to harassment by the college and some faculty members for maintaining low attendance. As per the letter, Rohilla was forced to repeat an entire academic year.

The court observed that global practices followed by leading educational institutions around the world would also need to be analysed to see whether mandatory attendance requirements are even required.

“In the opinion of this Court, teachers and students need to be consulted in order to consider what should be the standards of attendance. Wider consultation would also be required to be undertaken to have a relook at the need to have mandatory attendance,” the court said.

The court issued notice to AICTE, NMC and Union Government for making submissions on the issue. It further requested ASG Chetan Sharma to make submissions in the matter for the Court's assistance.

The matter will now be heard on September 09.

Title: COURTS ON ITS OWN MOTION IN RE: SUICIDE COMMITTED BY SUSHANT ROHILLA, LAW STUDENT OF I.P. UNIVERSITY

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 944

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