Delhi: BCI route for DU law graduates with attendance shortfalls

Some University of Delhi law graduates who completed their degrees despite attendance shortfalls now have a one-time route to apply for enrolment as advocates.

In an order dated August 12, the Bar Council of India said an application cannot be rejected, withheld or kept pending solely because of an attendance deficiency from the academic session protected by the Supreme Court’s July 21, 2026 order. The move followed representations from Faculty of Law students who said their universities could not issue the standard attendance or Attendance-cum-Character Certificate needed at the enrolment stage.

Eligible candidates must have been admitted to a recognised LLB programme, been allowed to sit their final or supplementary examinations under the legal position applicable to that session, passed and received an LLB degree. They must also meet the requirements under Sections 24 and 24A of the Advocates Act and other enrolment rules.

Where university records show that a student did not meet the normal attendance requirement, universities need not certify otherwise. They may instead certify the student’s admission, the covered academic session, permission to take examinations and the award of a degree.

The BCI said the exception applies only to the protected session and does not relax attendance rules for other batches or future academic years. The attendance shortfall cannot be the sole reason to reject, withhold or keep an eligible candidate’s enrolment application pending.