Recently, the premier law university NLSIU announced that it is going to conduct its own aptitude examination, termed NLAT to admit students for the new academic year. However, students from across the country faced major problems while giving the entrance exam for the Bangalore Law Institute. Yesterday, i.e. September 21st, 2020, the Supreme Court passed an order to quash the conduct of NLSIU’s NLAT.
Further, the court held that the institute would have to rely on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to conduct admission to its courses in 2020.
Hon’ble Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy, and MR Shah presided over the current matter. They had reserved judgment on this matter last week, on September 17th, 2020. After extensive hearings, the 3-judge bench had passed an order that allowed NLSIU to conduct NLAT. However, the Apex Court reversed the decision and stated that “the results would be declared subject to the decision of the court”
The order that was passed declares, “In view of the foregoing discussion, we are of the considered opinion that Admission notification dated 03.09.2020 issued by Respondent No. 1 was not in accordance with the law and deserves to be set aside”.
According to the directions of the Court, CLAT will be conducted on September 28th, 2020. The Law Entrance exam will be conducted after adhering to all the safety guidelines that are issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The results of the exam are to be declared fairly early so that the NLUs can start admission as soon as possible.
The court ha also directed that NLSIU has to be reinstated to the Secretariat of the NLU Consortium.
In this regard, the order reads, “We are of the view that Status quo ante as on 05.09.2020 should be restored as early as possible i.e. by restoring the respondent No.2 as Secretary of the Consortium as well as restoring the Secretariat of the Consortium to NLSIU, Bengaluru. The governing body may take the decision keeping in mind that the CLAT examination scheduled on 28.09.2020 be smoothly held. The respondent Nos.1 and 2 are also to cooperate with the holding of CLAT scheduled to be held on 28.09.2020. ”
