SC stays HC order allowing truants to take exams

NEW DELHI: Strongly disapproving of law students bunking class to roam around campus, Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed Delhi HC's order which said no student could be prevented from taking exams on the grounds of lack of minimum attendance.

While issuing notice on a batch of petitions filed by law colleges and Bar Council of India against the HC order, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said all National Law Universities were suffering because of low attendance.

Posting the petitions for hearing on July 21, the bench said, "In the meantime, effect and operation of paragraph 249 of the impugned judgment shall remain stayed. However, the same shall be effective prospectively."

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the HC order had "given a premium to bypass discipline" and not attend classes. The court said the HC order could be considered a free pass by students to not attend classes. The HC had directed that no student enrolled in any law college, university or institution shall be detained from taking an exam or prevented from further academic pursuits or career progression on the grounds of lack of minimum attendance.