Law Professor Files PIL to Enforce Attendance Rules in Mumbai University Law Colleges
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by News Desk
A Mumbai University law professor has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court seeking stricter enforcement of mandatory attendance requirements for law students. The petition, filed by Dr. Sharmila Ghuge, argues that a significant gap exists between the mandated 75% attendance (as per University Ordinance 6086) and the reality of often much lower attendance rates, sometimes dipping as low as 30%.
Dr. Ghuge blames this discrepancy on a combination of factors. Students are increasingly juggling internships with law firms or jobs alongside their studies, and law colleges and the university itself are failing to enforce attendance rules. The petition argues that this “indirect support” for absenteeism by not taking action against defaulters is “unethical” for students and “illegal” for the institutions.
To address this issue, the PIL proposes a major shift in the internship structure. Instead of the current system of scattered internships throughout the academic year, Dr. Ghuge suggests a concentrated internship program of 3-4 months during the final semester, similar to the models followed in professional courses like CA, CS, and MBBS. This would allow students to gain practical experience while still attending lectures regularly.
The petition further highlights the inconsistency between BCI rules (which mandate a minimum of 70% attendance for exams) and the lax enforcement observed in Mumbai University colleges compared to stricter junior colleges. Dr. Ghuge argues that this non-compliance violates the Equal Protection Clause (Article 14) of the Indian Constitution, as students in other legal institutions like National Law Universities are held to a higher attendance standard.
To improve attendance, the PIL proposes a multi-pronged approach. This includes issuing clear university circulars, establishing independent monitoring committees, implementing secure attendance marking systems, publicly listing attendance defaulters, and potentially barring them from exams.
Ultimately, Dr. Ghuge’s petition seeks court orders mandating Mumbai University to establish a monitoring committee and take action against institutions and students found to be consistently flouting attendance requirements. The Bombay High Court has issued notice to Mumbai University, Bar Council of India (BCI), and University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding the PIL, with a response deadline of June 19, 2024.
Written by — Athi Venkatesh AVD
