Pune: Bombay HC allows ILS Law College Students with Attendance Shortage to Sit for Exams

Mumbai, 4th May 2026: The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim relief to a group of students from ILS Law College Pune, who had been barred by the institute from appearing in the semester-end examinations due to shortage of attendance.

The court while permitting the students to take the ongoing exams made it clear that their results would remain subject to the final outcome of their petitions.

A Division Bench of Justices RI Chagla and Advait Sethna observed that, in the interim, the students should not be denied the opportunity to sit for the examinations. However, the court clarified that any results declared in their favour would not create any independent rights and would be contingent on the court’s final decision.

The Bench directed Savitribai Phule Pune University and ILS Law College to file their responses by June 9, and scheduled the matter for further hearing on June 22.

During the hearing, counsel for the students argued that the University’s rules prescribe a minimum attendance of 75 per cent, with a provision to relax up to 20 per cent in deserving cases. They submitted that the petitioners had attendance between 50 and 54 per cent and sought the benefit of this relaxation.

It was further contended that the required number of lectures had not been conducted by the college, and reliance was placed on Ordinances 68 and 70 of the 2011 Pune University Ordinances to justify additional leniency.

The Bench identified a central question for consideration: whether the permissible 20 per cent relaxation should be calculated from the 70 per cent attendance requirement laid down under the Bar Council of India’s Legal Education Rules.

The court also referred to a response obtained under the Right to Information Act from the Bar Council of India, which stated that all law institutions must adhere to the ruling in the Sushant Rohilla case until further directions.

In that judgment, the Delhi High Court had held that students enrolled in recognised law colleges should not be barred from examinations or academic progression solely on the ground of insufficient attendance.

Advocates Uday Warunjikar and Madhavi Ayappan, instructed by Talekar & Associates, appeared for the students. Advocate Shailendra Kanetkar represented ILS Law College, while Advocate Shekhar Jagtap appeared for the Bar Council of India.