Pursue Degree With Seriousness: Delhi HC Rejects LLB Student’s Plea on Attendance Shortage

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected a student's plea to appear in the LLB exam amid a shortage of attendance and emphasised that pupil must pursue their studies with all "seriousness and due diligence."

A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed the student's appeal, which challenged a previous order that had denied her permission to appear for the third-semester LLB exam at Delhi University’s Faculty of Law, PTI reported.

The bench agreed with the reasoning of the single judge, affirming that students pursuing professional degrees must approach their degrees seriously.

Also read | Delhi HC Pulled Up DU On Seat Allocation Policy for St Stephen's College

"While concurring with the reasoning rendered by the single judge, we too are of the considered opinion that the students pursuing such professional degree courses must pursue the said courses with all seriousness and due diligence," it said.

It further stated that exceptions to attendance requirements could only be made if outlined in the rules themselves.

"There could be an exception to such rigidity, which in all probability must be prescribed in the rules itself."

The High Court also pointed out that attendance shortages should not be waived unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as medical emergencies. However, the petitioner failed to provide any such circumstances in her case.

the plea was filed by a student enrolled in the third semester, who was notified on December 22, 2024, that she was on the provisional list of detainees due to attendance issues.

Also read | Delhi HC Grants 'Last Opportunity' to Govt on Blind Students' Accommodation Plea

Despite being excluded from the provisional list, her name appeared on the final detainee list on January 4, and she was not issued an exam admit card.

The bench noted that the student was aware of her attendance shortage when she paid her fees on time. Despite attending remedial classes, her attendance was only 54 per cent, quite below the required which is 70 per cent to sit for the exam, as per university rules.

The court reaffirmed that the attendance policy is non-negotiable and crucial, especially for professional courses like LLB, which require a higher level of commitment than regular degree programmes.