AMU detains most of BA LLB batch for low attendance; no records or time given, allege students

A large majority of final-year law students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have been “detained” for insufficient attendance after waiting months for their ninth semester results. The results were declared on April 18, around four months after the December exams. This decision to detain over 65% of the final-year BA LLB students has triggered protests.

Of a batch of 124 students, 81 have been given a ‘Y’ grade, indicating detention due to shortage of attendance. The ninth-semester results were declared just days before final semester exams and close to the registration deadline for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE 21), leaving little scope for correction.

The university did not give them any prior notice or disclosure of attendance during the semester, allege students. Calling it a “sustained pattern of institutional failure marked by opacity, abuse of authority, and a complete collapse of lawful academic governance”, students have approached the Bar Council of India, alleging violations of university rules by the Faculty of Law and a Delhi High Court judgment on attendance.

A list of affected students shows that many have been detained in one or more subjects.

AMU Law: No attendance records, no warnings

Students allege that mandatory procedures, including regular disclosure of attendance, were not followed during the academic session.

“The university’s own rules require monthly disclosure of attendance, but no such record was shared with us. We were allowed to sit for exams, fill forms for the next semester, complete internships and coursework and now suddenly we are being detained,” the student alleged, adding that many students were given a ‘Y’ (detained) grade solely on attendance grounds.

In an official statement issued by the batch, students alleged that “no transparent, reliable, or verifiable attendance system was ever maintained at any point during the academic session 2025-26” and that “mandatory monthly disclosures were never made.”

The statement further claimed that attendance was marked through “loose sheets, informal notes, WhatsApp messages, and intermediaries” and that the department’s attendance portal remained defunct.

AMU BA LLB: More results awaited

Even other batches are worried. A fourth-year BA LLB student said, “Our results are yet to be declared, and there is concern that similar action may be taken batch-wise.”

The students have made a representation to the Bar Council of India questioning the decision’s legality. Late last year, the Delhi High Court had ruled that law students cannot be stopped from writing exams if they fall short in attendance.

The delay in results has worsened the situation.

“The result was declared barely days before the final semester exams and barely 10 days prior to the registration deadline for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), leaving no scope to address any alleged shortfall,” the representation to the BCI states.

They pointed out that by then, students had already completed internships, submitted projects and internal assessments, and fulfilled tenth semester requirements. Despite this, they were informed about the detention only at the final stage.

Delhi High Court judgment

Students have also questioned the legality of the action, citing a November 2025 judgment of the Delhi High Court.

Students also alleged that “no official monthly attendance records or notices have been displayed or communicated to the students, in direct contravention of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the Sushant Rohilla case, which mandates weekly notification and monthly communication to parents/guardians regarding attendance,” the representation to BCI states.

“All the Centres of Legal Education are to comply with the Sushant Rohilla Judgement in both letter and spirit until any further order is passed by the high court of law,” the Bar Council of India stated its RTI reply dated April 16, 2026

AMU student protests

Following the result declaration, students staged protests at the Faculty of Law. “We have written to the vice chancellor and other authorities, but no one is engaging with us. When we tried to protest peacefully, we were allegedly manhandled by the proctorial team,” a student claimed.

Students also alleged that during a peaceful protest, they were “manhandled” by the proctorial team. They also claimed that they were “mishandled and harassed,” and subjected to “unprofessional and abusive language.”

Impact on law career, PG admissions

Students said the detention could have serious consequences for their academic and professional futures. “These are final-year students. Detention at this stage can prevent them from graduating, appearing for the bar examination, or pursuing job and higher education opportunities,” the batch statement said.

The representation also highlights cases of students with job offers, postgraduate admissions, and competitive exam prospects that may now be affected.

Students have demanded immediate revocation of all detentions, recognition of completed academic work, and implementation of a transparent, prospective and verifiable attendance system.

Aligarh Muslim University’s Faculty of Law dean did not respond to a request for comment at the time he was contacted. If and when he does, this story will be updated to include his remarks.