Bombay High Court seeks BCI, Mumbai University reply on PIL to enforce 75 percent attendance in law colleges

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought the response of Mumbai University (MU) and the Bar Council of India (BCI) to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking enforcement of the mandatory 75% attendance requirement in law colleges affiliated to Mumbai University (MU) [Sharmila Ghuge v. Mumbai University & Ors].The PIL by a faculty member at a law college highlighted the long standing issue of law students in Mumbai skipping classes to do permanent internships at law firms."Many students fail to meet the mandatory 75% attendance mark as stipulated by in ordinance 6086 of MU. The low attendance is primarily because of students interning with law firms or being employed while pursuing their law degrees, compounded by the lack of action on the part of law colleges and university authorities to enforce attendance requirements," the plea claimed. A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice AS Doctor issued notice to the MU, BCI and University Grants Commission (UGC) and sought responses from them on the petition..The petitioner, Sharmila Ghuge, said that there was 'widespread violation' of the attendance mandate in Mumbai law colleges and hence, directions should be issued to MU to enforce and comply with the mandatory 75% attendance requirements for students enrolled for both three and five-year law programs across colleges..Ghuge claimed that she addressed several representations to BCI, MU and UGC expressing her concerns over the non-compliance. UGC directed MU to look into the matter but since there was lack of any substantial response, Ghuge approached the High Court. .The petition filed through advocate Shyam Dewani highlighted that in the first week of an academic year, only 50 percent of newly admitted students attend the lectures which decreased to 30 percent in second week and finally only 10 percent students remaining in the third week.Ghuge further elaborated that in the five-year LLB program, an average attendance of two years is considered. Nothing, however, is mentioned in the MU ordinance about the repercussions of students not complying with attendance criteria, it was pointed out..The PIL also sought direction to BCI to consider a proposal for long term internship so as to encourage students to attend lectures.The petitioner also said that MU should be ordered to take disciplinary actions against students and institutions found to be in consistent violation of the attendance requirement and there should be regular inspection and review of law colleges under MU. .The petition will be considered next on June 19.