VINOTHAN KRISHNAN RAMAN Vs. UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner obtained the B. Com. degree in 1987 from the University of Mumbai with an aggregate of 41.88% marks. In 2009, the Petitioner appeared for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree examination conducted by the Annamalai University. A provisional "double degree" certificate was issued by the Annamalai University on 16 October 2009. The Petitioner sought admission through the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) of the University of Mumbai for pursuing an M. A. in Political Science in 2009. He passed Part I of the M. A. examination in April 2010 and Part II in April 2011. In the meantime in August 2010 the Petitioner took admission for the Three Year LL. B. degree course of the University of Mumbai through the Thane Law College. The University of Mumbai declined to grant eligibility to the Petitioner to pursue the LL. B. degree course. According to the Petitioner the University verbally declined to grant him eligibility after the first semester examination. These proceedings were instituted before the Court on 15 April 2011 seeking the following reliefs:

(2.) By an interim order dated 15 April 2011 the Division Bench directed the University to permit the Petitioner to appear for the First Year LL. B. examination which was to commence from 18 April 2011 with the clear understanding that he will not be entitled to claim an equity on any count at a later stage and that the result of the First Year examination shall be kept in abeyance till the further orders of the Court. Subsequently, the Petition came to be amended to seek a direction that the Petitioner be permitted to seek admission to the Second Year of the LL. B. degree course and that if he had failed in any of the subjects at the second semester examination, that he could be permitted to appear in those subjects again.

(3.) During the pendency of these proceedings, the Division Bench directed on 9 June 2011 the impleadment of the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. Pursuant thereto, UGC has filed an affidavit before this Court of its Education Officer dated 24 January 2012. The University of Mumbai has also placed an affidavit in reply on the record. The Bar Council of India has appeared through counsel. The Bar Council of India has placed on the record its Rules of Legal Education, 2008 framed under the provisions of the Advocates Act 1961.