Students stumped as Mumbai law colleges ask for Class 11 mark sheet

Law students who had appeared for their Class 12 examination privately or through an open school are in a fix as colleges have asked them to furnish results for Class 11 examination, a test they didn’t take.

Colleges received a directive from the state directorate of higher education (DHE) requiring law students who didn’t submit a copy of their Class 11 mark sheet at the time of admission to furnish the document. As a result, students who didn’t take the examination now risk losing their admission months after taking admission in the course.

“The directive came after we sent the admission forms for verification to DHE. We are merely following the directorate’s instructions,” said Daisy Alexander, principal, Rizvi Law College, Bandra.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a student from a law college in western suburbs, who had appeared for his higher secondary certificate (HSC) examination privately, said, “Around two months ago, the college asked some students to furnish Class 11 marksheets. But three of us, who cleared HSC privately, don’t have the document. Colleges authorities said that they can’t help it.”

A DHE said the directive is in line with the admission rules prescribed by Bar Council of India (BCI) – the apex regulatory body for legal education. “In their application form for admission, students had indicated that they took Class 11 examination. Now, they need to ascertain the claim,” said the official.

However, students argue that the Rules of Legal Education laid down by BCI in 2008 as well as the admission brochure provided by the state CET cell have no such provision and in fact, they allow students who took Class 12 privately, through open schooling or distance education to pursue law.

In February, after a college had cancelled the admission of a student who had passed HSC examination privately, the student moved Bombay high court (HC).

The court, in March, put a stay on the cancellation subjecting it to final outcome of the case. The matter is now slated for hearing after the court’s vacation.

Last year, HC had turned down the plea of an aspirant, Arman Phiroz Khan, who couldn’t appear for class 11 examination due to health reasons and passed HSC privately, to appear for the common entrance test (CET) for five-year law courses.

"It will be travesty of justice if the distance education students’ admissions are cancelled because they do not possess class 11 mark sheet. No educational course or institution in the country asks them for the same," said a law student who passed class 12 from the National Institute of Open Schooling, a distance education board under central government.

What is the eligibility criteria for law courses?

Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules of Legal Education, 2008

Provided that applicants who have obtained + 2 Higher Secondary Pass Certificate or First Degree Certificate after prosecuting studies in distance or correspondence method shall also be considered as eligible for admission in the Integrated Five Years course or three years’ LL.B. course, as the case may be.

Explanation: The applicants who have obtained 10 + 2 or graduation / post graduation through open Universities system directly without having any basic qualification for prosecuting such studies are not eligible for admission in the law courses.

Minutes of meeting of BCI Legal Education Committee, held on 30th April, 2017

Thus in conclusion it can be stated that for seeking admission into 3 year law course qualifications needed are only 12th and three year graduation, with 12th being the basic qualification for seeking admission into 3 year law course , while for seeking admission into 5 year law course only 10th and 12th qualification suffices with 10th being the basic qualification for seeking admission into thr 5 year law course.

The qualifications of 10th, 12th (+2) and graduation may be obtained through any mode (distance / correspondence / open schooling method).

Maharashtra CET Cell’s admission brochure for five year LLB

The candidates who have obtained 10th Std Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination, in a single sitting examination without having basic qualification IV to 9th Standard of schooling) and completed 12. Std. (HSC) equivalent examination in single sitting it not eligible for admission.