Delhi HC Calls for Overhaul of College Attendance Policies, Highlights Mental Health Concerns

The Delhi High Court emphasized the need to revisit compulsory attendance norms in colleges and universities, highlighting significant changes in teaching practices after the Covid-19 pandemic. The court stressed considering students’ mental health when setting attendance requirements and called for streamlining grievance redressal mechanisms in educational institutions.

A bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Amit Sharma noted that the issue of mandatory attendance in undergraduate and postgraduate courses requires higher-level consideration, rather than limiting it to specific institutions. The bench suggested offering incentives for class attendance instead of penalizing students for low attendance.

The court expressed its intent to form a committee to examine these factors and develop uniform guidelines for attendance requirements in UG and PG courses.

The high court is hearing a petition transferred from the Supreme Court in March 2017 regarding the 2016 suicide of Amity Law University student Sushant Rohilla. Rohilla, a third-year law student, took his life after the university allegedly barred him from exams due to insufficient attendance.

The court noted that regulatory bodies and universities have historically enforced compulsory attendance, but recent changes, including virtual classes, require reconsideration. The court also highlighted the need to account for students balancing education with jobs, especially in areas with limited technological access.

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