Karnataka HC Refuses Relief To Student Who Couldn’t Complete LL.B Course In 7 Years [Read Order]

The Karnataka High Court recently denied relief to a student who had failed to complete his three-year LL.B Course within the prescribed period of seven years.

The order was passed by Justice R. Devdas on a petition filed by one Anand, who is a student of the three years LL.B course in JSS Sakri Law College, Dharwad. He had enrolled in the year 2011 and had now approached the court challenging the college’s decision to not allow him to appear for exams for an optional subject of 5th semester of his course. The exam was scheduled for December this year.

He had now relied on the Karnataka State Law University Regulations governing three years LL.B Degree Course in Law, as amended in 2015. Regulation 14, clause C permits candidates who do not successfully complete their degree within six years to have an extended period of two more consecutive attempts.

Karnataka State Law University, however, relied on the judgment passed in R Manoharan v. The Karnataka State Law University, wherein a division bench of the high court had taken note of a circular issued by the University in April, 2017, clarifying that a maximum period of seven years was available to students to complete the LL.B course.

“It remains trite that no legal right could be claimed in the matters of education contrary to the regulations of the University. In the present case, the above quoted circular dated 04/05.04.2017 makes it clear that even while extending one more opportunity to the 2010 batch students to appear in the examination of June/July, 2017 the University took a conscious decision that the students of 2009 batch like the appellants would not be permitted to appear in the said examination of June/July, 2017.

“…In our view, the conscious decision taken by the University to regulate and maintain the standards of legal education as per the directions of the Bar Council of India remains unexceptionable and no relaxation contrary to such a decision could be extended,” the division bench had observed.

Taking note of this judgment, the court now ruled, “In that view of the matter, the petitioner cannot be permitted to take up the law examination. Following the decision of the Hon'ble Division Bench, this petition is liable to be dismissed and therefore, the petition is accordingly dismissed.”