Madras HC directs Ambedkar Law University to allow students with diploma, polytechnic to pursue 5-year LLB

Justice CV Karthikeyan directed the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University to make changes in the prospectus accordingly.

The Madras High Court has recently directed the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University that when it comes to admission to a five-year BA LLB course, those candidates who have completed three-year polytechnic or diploma courses after class X, should be treated at par with those who had opted for higher secondary (+2) education after their class X.

Justice CV Karthikeyan also directed the university to clarify in its prospectus from the next academic year that the students who have "completed 3 year diploma / polytechnic by a recognized institution after completing 10th standard, shall also be considered at par with those students who had done their +2 and obtained their certificates," as reported by Bar and Bench.

While hearing the plea by a law aspirant, S Karthi, the court directed the university to permit the petitioner to participate in the upcoming counselling for admission to the five-year law course and to offer him a seat if found to be eligible.

"Thereafter, if he is otherwise eligible offer him a seat for 5-year BA LLB, course, in accordance with other rules and regulations. But he cannot be disqualified merely on the ground that, he had studied 3 year diploma course, after completing the 10th standard," the court said.

The Bar Council of India (BCI), the respondent party in the matter, submitted that it issued a circular on December 12 this year, which said that its Legal Education Committee had considered previous judgments of the Madras High Court on similar pleas and "resolved" that all law colleges must treat the above two categories of students at par.

"The circular is quite self-explanatory in nature. It is clear that the petitioner's qualification entitle him to participate in the selection process for the 5 year integrated law course. In this connection, I am also informed that a Division Bench of this Court in W.P.No.22193 of 2022 by an order dated December 21, 2022, P Santhru Swaminathan Vs. The Registrar, the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and two others, had also examined the very same aspect and had held that the 3-year diploma / polytechnic course issued by an institution recognized by the Government shall be considered at par with +2 certificate for the purpose of admission for the 5-year integrated LLB, degree course," said the court.

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