'Go Prepare For Exams' : Supreme Court Dismisses Law Student's Plea To Cancel 3 Year LLB Exams Of KSLU

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere with Karnataka High Court's order that allowed Karnataka State Law University to hold exams for a 3 year LLB course.

"Dismissed. No indulgence. They are law students & want to become lawyers, future judges and in this manner?," the bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar said.

The Karnataka High Court bench of Justice S G Pandit and Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde had set aside the single judge bench order dated on December 14, 2021, by which the court had quashed the notification issued by Karnataka State Law University, by which it was to conduct offline examinations for the students of 2nd and 4th semester of three year LLB course.

The High Court had directed the University to determine the mode of examination as suggested by the Bar Council of India in its press release, dated June 10, 2021 and other relevant documents, within 10 days from the date of web-hoisting of the order.

The High Court had also said, "Consequent to taking decision as directed above the respondent university to take steps forthwith to complete the procedure of examination/evaluation of second and fourth semester, for three years LLB course. The University shall ensure that the time gap prescribed by the rules if any for conducting of examination/evaluation."

The single judge bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar in its order dated December 14, 2021 had directed that the students be promoted to the next semester. The Court had said, "University is directed to promote the petitioners to the next semester in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.14389/2020 disposed of on 08.02.2021. It is made clear that this order is restricted to the students of the three year LLB Course."

What transpired in Supreme Court today?

When the matter was called for hearing, Advocate Prashant Padhmanabhan appearing for the students submitted that the Karnataka State Law University was insisting for offline exams for students studying in 2nd and 4th semester too.

Referring to the report submitted by the Expert Committee, Counsel said, "The issue is whether students can insist on a particular mode of exam. There are at least 6 modes of exams suggested by the experts committee. Only for final terms, written exams were made mandatory. Karnataka State Law University is insisting for 2nd & 4th sem of offline exam."

"As a student of law you should be happy that you are appearing in some form of exam. Instead of engaging in court, you should be ready to appear for the exam. You are bound by BCI guidelines & university is bound by it. Do you want to show that you are different from others? BCI guidelines apply across the country & is not limited to Karnataka. You are living in some different world Mr Padhmanabhan. Go prepare for the exam and appear in the exam," Justice AM Khanwilkar, the presiding judge of the bench remarked.

While expressing his inclination to dismiss the SLP, Justice Khanwilkar further observed that the guidelines formulated by the Bar Council of India were applicable throughout the country and also the State of Karnataka.

"You don't appear for the exam & find ways to deflate the exam. Dismissed. Let the authorities do their job. What is this? BCI guidelines are applicable across the country & also Karnataka," Justice Khanwilkar said.

Case Title: Suraj And Ors. V. Karnataka State Law University And Ors.| SLP(C) No. 3914/2022

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