The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea challenging a Delhi High Court ruling, which held that law students cannot be barred from appearing in examinations solely on the ground of insufficient attendance.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, however, declined to suspend the High Court judgment at the interim stage, observing that the issue requires authoritative consideration. The matter arose in a petition filed by SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner institution, argued that the High Court ruling effectively diluted mandatory attendance requirements in legal education.

“The High Court says no attendance is required anywhere. People don’t want to go to colleges. I am wondering why we went to college then..The effect of this order will be NLU hostels will just be boarding and lodging facilities. What for that entire infrastructure then? They can very well stay at home and do it.”

The Court issued notice but declined to stay the Delhi High Court judgment immediately, stating:

“We are not suspending that order. We will hear the matter, decide and lay down the correct position of law.”

The Bench also noted submissions of Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan that the High Court may have been influenced by the facts of a student suicide case while deciding the matter. The Supreme Court directed that the matter be tagged with a connected petition- Prakruthi Jain v. Bar Council of India, W.P.(C) No. 31/2025 and listed it for hearing on May 26.