Plea in Delhi High Court challenges use of CLAT 2023 scores for admission to five-year law courses at Delhi University

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging Delhi University’s decision to consider Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2023 scores for admission to the newly introduced five-year integrated law courses..The plea came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula. Advocate Mohinder S Rupal appeared for the DU and said that he needs some to respond to the plea. The Bench, therefore, adjourned the case to August 17. .The PIL, filed by a law student named Prince Singh studying at DU’s Law Faculty, demanded that the University should implement the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for admission.It has been argued that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has said that all central universities shall complete their undergraduate admission processes in accordance with CUET. While admission for all other courses is being done through CUET, for the five-year law courses at DU, CLAT scores are being considered.Owing to this, only a separate class/category/segment of students can secure admission to the five-year courses at Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, the plea stated.It is also pointed out that while the CUET is conducted in multiple languages, CLAT is conducted only in English.“That the CLAT exam is being conducted in English medium since its inception. However, the CUET (UG) exam is being conducted in 13 languages i.e., English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. It is worth noting here that the CUET is more inclusive more diverse and in tune with the mandate of the National Educational Policy. It is not out of the place to mention here that the Respondent No. 1 uses two languages i.e., English and Hindi in its teachings and semester exams.”.The introduction of five-year law courses at Delhi University had been a long-awaited demand.In a letter dated July 26, 2023, the Bar Council of India (BCI) granted its approval for 60 seats each in the BA.LL.B. (Hons) and BBA.LL.B. (Hons.) programmes. The DU said that selection for enrolment in the five-year integrated programmes will be based on CLAT 2023.The University announced that the sessions for both courses will take place at the Faculty of Law, Kanad Bhawan, located in the North Campus of the University of Delhi..Faculty of Law, Delhi University introduces five-year integrated law courses