Bombay HC Rejects PIL on Law Students' Criminal Declarations

Bombay High Court rejects a PIL challenging Mumbai University’s rule requiring law students to declare criminal antecedents before receiving final marksheets.

The PIL, filed by advocate Ashok Yende, argued that the rule violated privacy, fairness, and jurisdiction, as students from other disciplines weren’t subjected to the same requirement.

The court noted that seeking information on criminal records doesn’t violate privacy. It observed that if students were aggrieved, they should have filed the petition themselves.

The Bar Council of India’s circular also mandates biometric attendance, CCTV monitoring, and a declaration prohibiting dual academic enrollments or jobs without an NOC.

Yende claimed the BCI overstepped its jurisdiction, violating the Advocates Act, and that the move was discriminatory, infringing on students’ rights under Articles 14 & 21.

Despite concerns over privacy and reformative justice, the High Court found the rule constitutional. The Supreme Court is also reviewing petitions challenging the BCI’s directive.

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