Evolve Mechanism For Online Classes, Time Frame For Students' Representation On Short Attendance: High Court To Delhi University, BCI

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi University and the Bar Council of India to evolve mechanism to enable students to attend LLB classes online and for specific time-frame in which they may make representation regarding short attendance.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said that while the Court is conscious of the fact that physical attendance carries distinct values in professional courses, however, continuous development of technology and Artificial Intelligence presents an opportunity to the experts to evolve effective remote learning mechanisms.

Further, the Court said that there should be strict adherence to notifying the attendance position of each of student for evert month on the notice board of the college which must clearly indicate the lectures or practicals held subject-wise and the numbers attended by each student.

“In the era of technological advancement and in order to avoid any further objection being taken in future by the students that they were not timely notified, the University of Delhi/Faculty of Law should send such monthly attendance updates via e-mail along with SMS and WhatsApp to the respective students and the record/proof of such should be maintained by the University of Delhi/Faculty of Law,” the Court said.

It added: “The Dean of the Law, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, in consultation with the Bar Council of India, may evolve a mechanism wherein the students within a time frame may make the representation regarding short attendance, and the authorities may take appropriate decision if such representations are found to be genuine.”

The Court passed the directions while dismissing a batch of petitions filed by various students seeking a direction on Delhi University Faculty of Law to issue them admit cards and to allow them to appear in their respective semester examinations scheduled to be held from January 07.

While rejecting the plea, the Court noted that the petitioners sought the relief by invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

However, it said that given the lack of diligence of the students in adhering to the prescribed academic discipline, allowing such a remedy would set a wrong precedent by effectively rewarding non-compliance.

Justice Sharma observed that it is essential to maintain the integrity of the L.L.B. professional course and to ensure that students who abide by the rules are not prejudiced by a retroactive relaxation of discipline.

The Court concluded that the power under Article 226 is not a tool for granting relief in situations where there has been a manifest disregard of discipline by the students themselves.

To permit such an invocation would not only undermine the integrity of the professional course but also prejudice those students who diligently observe their academic responsibilities, it added.

Title: ROJALINI PARIDA v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI THROUGH ITS VICE-CHANCELLOR & ORS

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 168

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