Gujarat court grants relief to law aspirant 24 years after denial of law college admission

A civil court in Ahmedabad recently granted relief to a man denied law college admission citing a technicality by the Gujarat University's Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College, 24 years after he applied for the 3-year LLB course in 2000 [Shashi Kumar Mohata v. Gujarat University & Another]. .Shashi Kumar Mohata, a stock market professional, was denied admission because his academic qualification to be eligible for the course fell one year short of the 15-year requirement (12 years of schooling and 3 years of graduation) mandated by the Gujarat University. In 2001, he sued the Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College and the Gujarat University (to which the law college was affiliated) for denying him admission to the law course. The suit was initially dismissed in 2017 after he failed to appear to produce certain documents. However, the suit was later restored on Mohata's plea in 2022. Thereafter, on November 16 this year, city civil court Judge Bhavesh K Avashia granted Mohata relief..The court found that the general criteria to pursue a 3-year LLB course is that the student should possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, irrespective of the number of years spent in their academic life.Therefore, the court held that Gujarat University could not deny admission merely on the ground that Mohata had only studied for 14 years (11+3) when he applied for the course."The key criteria to consider eligibility to get admission is 'Bachelor’s Degree' irrespective of the numbers of the years spent as a student life. Herein, the plaintiff (Mohata) is possessing 'Bachelor of Commerce Degree' from the recognized university - 'Calcutta University.' Therefore, the defendants (Gujarat University and Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College) have no right to denied admission merely on the ground that the plaintiff had studied only for 14 years (11+3) and not for 15 years (12+3)," it held..The court added that it would have to assume that there is no other hurdle to prevent Mohata from pursuing the LLB course, since the Gujarat University and its affiliate law college had not raised any other objections in court. Thus, the court directed the Gujarat University and the Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College to enroll Mohata in their 3-year LLB course from the next academic year 2025-26, provided that he produces his marksheets and degree certificate within a month (from the order's date) for verification. .Mohata, a 1979 commerce graduate (B.Com) from the University of Calcutta had applied for admission to the 3-year LLB course at Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College (affiliated with Gujarat University) in 2000.However, he was denied admission due to a technicality since he had only completed 14 years of prior education, while the University required of 15 years (12 years of schooling and 3 years of graduation) of student life. Mohata submitted that he tried his best to persuade the Gujarat University that its rule discriminates against students from different universities and violates his rights as an Indian citizen under the Constitution of India. He then approached the city civil court for relief. .The court granted him relief last month after examining documents produced by him to verify that he had cleared his B Com exam in 1979, thereby making him eligible to pursue a 3-year law course. Apart from directing the Gujarat University to enroll him into its LLB course from the next academic year, it also directed the defendants (Gujarat University and its affiliate law college) to bear the litigation costs incurred by Mohata in pursuit of this case. .Advocate RP Ruparel appeared for Shashi Kumar Mohata.Advocate RA Patel represented Gujarat University. Advocate JR Patel represented the Daulatbhai Trivedi Law College..[Read Order]