Decided To Hold Separate Entrance Test To Complete Admissions Before September End: NLSIU Tells Karnataka HC [Read Affidavit]
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has filed an affidavit in the Karnataka High court placing on record details why it decided to opt out of Common Law Admission Test, 2020 (CLAT) and decided to conduct a separate admission test. The NLSIU has submitted the affidavit in the court as recently the High Court reserved its judgment in a batch of petitions challenging...
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has filed an affidavit in the Karnataka High court placing on record details why it decided to opt out of Common Law Admission Test, 2020 (CLAT) and decided to conduct a separate admission test.
The NLSIU has submitted the affidavit in the court as recently the High Court reserved its judgment in a batch of petitions challenging the 25 percent domicile reservation introduced in the University by the amendment passed by the Karnataka legislature.
The Affidavit states that unforeseen difficulties and delays in the conduct of CLAT and repeated postponement of examinations due to COVID-19 has placed the NLSIU at a unique disadvantage (amongst the various universities that participate in CLAT).
Elaborating on the disadvantage the affidavit states that "Since NLSIU follows a trimester system. As per trimester system. NLSIU's academic year is made up of three terms of ninety days duration and each term must accommodate sixty hours of classroom instructions in each course, and adequately provide for examination and evaluation processes."
Therefore, it is stated, if NLSIU is unable to complete admissions before the end of September 2020, it will result in 'Zero Year', with no admissions. Apart from being extremely prejudicial to aspirants desirous of joining NLSIU in the academic year 2020-2021, any change in the academic calendar will also significantly impact the academic programme of second, third, fourth and fifth years students of BA LLB, as aslo LLM students since the programme is fully integrated and requires a common academic year.
In the circumstances, NLSIU said that, pursuant to the decision taken by the Executive Council at its 91st meeting and the faculty meetings dated August 6 and August 31, it has decided to conduct a separate common entrance test at the earliest and with lowest possible application fee to avoid a Zero Year and ensure a fair, transparent and accessible enrollment process.
One of the reasons for conducting separate Common Admission test is taken since CLAT 2020 was postponed from September 7 to September 28 and pursuant to the express resolution of the Executive Council, the affidavit states.
It is also clarified that the seat matrix and reservation notification is identical in all respects to the revised seat matrix issued on August 4 in respect of the then on-going CLAT examination.
[Read Memo]