The Delhi High Court has requested the Bar Council of India’s Legal Education Committee to clarify attendance requirements for five-year LLB degree courses. The court will next hear the case on November 6.
A division bench, comprising Justices Pratibha M Singh and Amit Sharma, is reviewing a suo motu case linked to the 2016 suicide of Sushant Rohilla, a student from Amity Law School. Rohilla’s friend wrote to the then Chief Justice of India, alleging harassment due to low attendance. The Supreme Court took cognizance of this letter and transferred the matter to the High Court in March 2017.
Government and University Responses
The bench noted that the BCI’s counsel provided a document regarding the Legal Education Committee and attendance requirements of international universities. The Central Government informed the court that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had directed higher educational institutions to establish student grievance redressal committees by September 19, 2023. However, the court expressed concern that the government’s brief did not include outcomes from the consultation meeting with statutory councils held on October 7.
Counsel for Amity Law School stated that Rohilla’s parents were kept informed about his attendance issues, indicating that the institution should not be held accountable for his death. The court has asked the university to consider ex-gratia compensation for Rohilla’s family. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, serving as amicus curiae, raised concerns about recent suicide incidents in educational institutions and requested permission to expand the scope of counselling services.
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