HC asks Panjab University to reconsider scrapping of PU UGLAW 2020

After cancellation of PU UGLAW 2020 due to COVID19 pandemic, candidates raised plea against it in HC of Punjab and Haryana. Read here to know more. 

The Panjab University has cancelled the entrance exam for BA LLB and BCom LLB course admissions owing to COVID-19 situation in the country. Further, the admission process will be based on Class 12th merit as per the guidelines shared by the university on August 25. Following this, many aspirants requested the Bar Council of India (BCI) to look into the matter. They raised concerns stating, "The entrance test facilitates the assessment of comparative talent of the candidates by application of a uniform standard and is always preferable to the evolution of comparative merit on the basis of marks obtained at the qualifying examination. Primarily, it ensures a common yardstick for judging the suitability of candidates coming from different sources. When more than one source of the institution taking the qualifying exam is available, it will be extremely difficult to compare the performance of such students coming from different backgrounds. The common entrance test, therefore, serves the useful purpose of common yardstick for judging the suitability of these students." according to various news media reports. 

A petition was also filed in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana by Advocate Vikas Chatrath and Advocate Deepak Vashishst representing the exam applicants. They represented that the university has cancelled only the entrance test for BA LLB and BCom LLB courses and, is conducting entrance exam for all other courses including the three-year LLB course. Now, the HC has asked the university to rethink about the cancellation of PU UGLAW 2020 for admission to BA LLB and BCom LLB course. Moreover, asked the counsel representing the university to issue a fresh notification on or before September 15. Until then the admission process of UG Law courses will stay on hold. 

Every year, the admissions to BA LLB and BCom LLB course is done on the weightage of 50% PU UGLAW scores and 50% class 12th scores. However, this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, the university decided to not conduct the entrance test that may put the test-takers in the risk of contracting the infection. 

Many entrance exams all over India are being conducted in a social distanced mode or in a home-based online proctored mode due to the same reason. However, aspirants are both in favour and against the cancellation of the competitive entrance exams.  

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