The Delhi High Court has urged Delhi University (DU) and the Bar Council of India (BCI) to explore the possibility of implementing online classes for law students, citing advancements in technology and artificial intelligence as avenues to develop "effective remote learning mechanisms." The suggestion came while the Court was dismissing a series of petitions filed by law students who were barred from appearing in their semester examinations due to insufficient attendance.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, presiding over the case, acknowledged the importance of physical attendance in professional courses but pointed out that continuous technological progress offers an opportunity to innovate in remote education. "The University of Delhi and the Bar Council of India may also evolve a mechanism to enable the students to attend classes online with appropriate safeguards and conditions," stated the Court.
The petitions were filed by law students challenging DU's decision to disallow them from taking their semester exams due to attendance shortages. The students argued for relaxation in attendance requirements, but the Court refused to interfere, asserting that no relaxation could be granted under writ jurisdiction. It emphasized the need to maintain discipline and integrity in professional legal education.
Justice Sharma observed, "It is essential to maintain the integrity of the L.L.B. professional course and to ensure that students who abide by the rules are not prejudiced by a retroactive relaxation of discipline... To permit such an invocation would not only undermine the integrity of the professional course but also prejudice those students who diligently observe their academic responsibilities."
Acknowledging the challenges of traditional attendance systems, the Court highlighted the need for DU's Faculty of Law to adopt modern communication channels to keep students informed about their attendance status. It recommended the use of email, SMS, and WhatsApp for sending monthly attendance updates, ensuring that students are notified in a timely manner.
The judgment emphasized, "There should be strict adherence with the practice of notifying the attendance of each student for each month along with the lectures/practicals held subject-wise." The Court also suggested that the Dean of the Faculty of Law, in consultation with BCI, could create a mechanism for students to present their cases regarding short attendance, allowing the authorities to make informed decisions if the reasons were found to be genuine.
Highlighting the potential of technology in enhancing legal education, the Court stated, "The continuous development of technology and Artificial Intelligence presents an opportunity to the experts to evolve effective remote learning mechanisms." It urged educational institutions to explore hybrid or online models with appropriate safeguards to ensure the quality and integrity of legal education.
While suggesting online alternatives, the Court stressed that discipline and integrity in professional legal education must not be compromised. It clarified that its power under writ jurisdiction cannot be misused to grant relief in cases of "manifest disregard of discipline by the students."
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