May set ill precedent for non-punctual students: Karnataka HC junks NLSIU student plea against bar on attending classes for late submissions

The Karnataka High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by a student of National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore challenging a decision to bar him from attending classes on account of delay in project submissions. .Highlighting that non-punctual students may take advantage if an order is passed in favour of petitioner, Justice Krishna P Dixit opined,."... if relief is granted to a student in the given circumstances, the same is likely to lay down an ill precedent that has abundant abuse potential at the hands of unscrupulous or non-punctual students, nearly circumstanced alike; that potential risk too restrains this Court from exercising the discretion in favour of the petitioner, whose case otherwise also, does not merit favourable consideration."Karnataka High Court.The BA.LL.B (Hons) student had challenged two communications by the University by which his project submissions were not accepted on the ground of delay. Due to this, he was not permitted to attend classes. .The petitioner had cited medical reasons (that he had come in contact with a COVID-19 positive person and was in quarantine) and lack of proper internet facility for not being able to submit the assignments on time. .Opposing this argument, the counsel appearing for NLSIU stated that an extension of time had already been granted by the Vice-Chancellor for the project submissions.He also pointed out that no proof was produced by the student to show that he was under quarantine. .The Court opined that there was no merit in the contentions raised by the student-petitioner. It observed that there was no dispute that the project assignments were submitted by the petitioner beyond the deadline and after the extension of time granted by the Vice- Chancellor..It was further noted that the petitioner had not produced an iota of material to show medical reasons to claim an extension. The order states,."...even the date which he mentions as the commencement of quarantine period, he having allegedly come in contact with a COVID infect/suspect, too will not come to his aid, since till then he had abundant time at his disposal for accomplishing the task at hands; he has not produced even a piece of paper of a bus-ticket-size to prima facie convince the respondents...".While the petitioner cited a lack of internet facilities as an additional ground, the Court noted that other students had successfully completed the assignments within the time stipulated or extended. .The Court also added that in such academic matters, writ courts ordinarily do not interfere unless some exceptional facts are pointed out. However, the petitioner had not shown any such extraordinary circumstances warranting indulgence by the Court, Justice Bhat ruled..Therefore, the Court dismissed the plea. .Advocates Vedanth Chugh and Pradeep Nayak appeared for the petitioner-student and Advocate Aditya Narayan appeared for NLSIU. .[Read order here]