In a significant relief to a group of law students, the Kerala High Court has directed that their second-semester exam results be published, despite earlier concerns over attendance shortage. The court found that the students were unfairly affected due to the college’s failure to conduct the required number of working days.
Background of the Case
The case, WP(C) No. 37092 of 2025, was filed by nine students enrolled in 3-year and 5-year LL.B courses at a law college affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University.
The students were initially barred from appearing for their semester examinations due to alleged shortage of attendance. However, some of them later received condonation from the university, while others were found to have attendance within permissible limits.
Read also:- Breaking: SC Rules Conversion to Christianity Ends SC Status, Upholds FIR Quash in Pastor Case
A key issue raised by the petitioners was that the college had conducted only 71 working days, far below the mandatory 90 working days required under university regulations and Bar Council of India norms.
Because of this shortfall, students argued they did not get a fair opportunity to meet attendance requirements.
When the matter first came up, the High Court passed an interim order allowing the students to submit their examination fees and appear for the exams provisionally.
During the final hearing, the court examined whether the students should be penalized for attendance shortages caused by institutional lapses.
Read also:- No Second Chance After SLP Dismissal: Supreme Court Rejects Lamba Exports’ Recall Plea
The petitioners relied on an earlier judgment which clearly mandates that semester examinations can only be conducted after completing the required number of working days and academic hours.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas noted that the college had failed in its duty to conduct the minimum number of working days before scheduling the examinations.
“The college had failed to conduct the minimum number of hours before scheduling the examination,” the court observed.
The judge further pointed out that if the required academic schedule had been followed, the students would have had sufficient opportunity to either meet attendance requirements or fall within condonable limits.
The court emphasized that the students were “prejudiced on account of the omission of the college”, making it unjust to deny them the benefit of appearing in exams.
Taking note of these circumstances, the High Court ordered that the provisional permission earlier granted to the students to write the examinations be made absolute.
The court directed that:
- The students’ appearance in the second-semester examinations be regularised, and
- Their results be published without delay
With this, the writ petition was allowed, granting full relief to the petitioners.
Case Details
- Case Title: Vaibhav Y Kini & Ors. v. Mahatma Gandhi University & Ors.
- Case Number: WP(C) No. 37092 of 2025
- Judge: Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
- Decision Date: March 12, 2026
- Counsels:
- For Petitioners: Adv. Smt. Siji Abraham
- For Respondents: Adv. Surin George Ipe & others
