DU LLB 2023: Plea in Delhi HC challenges CLAT 2023 scores for admission

A law student has filed a plea in Delhi high court stating the Delhi University should consider CUET scores for admission into the newly introduced five-year law courses instead of CLAT 2023.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a law student named Prince Singh, studying at DU’s Law Faculty, demanded that the Delhi University should consider the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for admission to LLB courses.

The plea has challenged Delhi University’s decision to consider Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2023 scores for admission to the newly introduced five-year integrated law courses.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula heard the case.

Advocate Mohinder S Rupal appeared for the DU and said that he needs some to respond to the plea. The Bench, therefore, adjourned the case to August 17, 2023, as reported by Bar and Bench.

The plea stated University Grants Commission (UGC) has said that all central universities shall complete their undergraduate admission processes in accordance with CUET. While admission for all other courses is being done through CUET, for the five-year law courses at DU, CLAT scores are being considered.

Owing to this, only a separate class/category/segment of students can secure admission to the five-year courses at Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, the plea stated.

CUET is conducted in multiple languages, and CLAT is conducted only in English. 

“That the CLAT exam is being conducted in English medium since its inception. However, the CUET (UG) exam is being conducted in 13 languages i.e., English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. It is worth noting here that the CUET is more inclusive more diverse and in tune with the mandate of the National Educational Policy. It is not out of the place to mention here that the Respondent No. 1 uses two languages i.e., English and Hindi in its teachings and semester exams," said the court.

In a letter dated July 26, 2023, the Bar Council of India (BCI) granted its approval for 60 seats each in the BA.LL.B. (Hons) and BBA.LL.B. (Hons.) programmes. The DU said that selection for enrolment in the five-year integrated programmes will be based on CLAT 2023.

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