SC refuses to allow pregnant student to appear in LLB-exams
What's the story
The Supreme Court today refused to allow a second-year law student of Delhi University (DU) to take her examination today on grounds of lack of attendance owing to her advanced stage of pregnancy. The bench also observed that the court was "very uncomfortable" in passing an order at 1 pm on a candidate seeking to sit in the examination scheduled an hour later.
Maternity leave
'Why didn't you apply for maternity-leave earlier?' Court asks student
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha asked petitioner Ankita Meena that why she hadn't applied for maternity leave earlier. DU counsel appeared before the court said, "We need sufficient time. Admit card has to be issued and it cannot be done right now". "It was difficult to make arrangements for her in such a short span of time," she added.
Not in favor
Law is against the student, the court observed
When the student's counsel urged the bench to allow her to sit in the remaining two papers so that she could save one year, the bench said, "The law is against you." "Discipline of academics has been lost completely. What is the point in having a cut-off date? All this will be lost if we entertain all this," the bench also observed.
Refusal
Single bench judge refused to grant any relaxation to girl
The bench referred to the fact that a single judge of Delhi High Court, who had already passed an order, refused to grant any relaxation in attendance to the student. It said even though there may be a justification for her inability to attend classes, the relief sought by her cannot be granted in light of provisions of Rules of Legal Education of BCI.
Information
Student has 49% attendance against 70% criteria
During the hearing, the student's counsel told the bench that she had 49% attendance against the 70% attendance criteria. The student had sought a direction to the DU to permit her to appear in the IV semester LLB examination which had commenced on May 16.