The Supreme Court on 11th September, allowed the National Law School India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, to conduct its National Law Admission Test (NLAT) 2020 scheduled for 12th September 2020.
However, a three-judge Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan ordered the premier law institute to neither declare the results nor proceed further with the admission process till the court took a final decision on the validity of NLAT.
Appearing for the NLSIU, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar said over 30,000 had registered for NLAT. “The exam is tomorrow. What do we do? We have arranged for 30 centres”, he submitted. He explained that the NLSIU was the only school with trimesters.
“We had repeatedly said that please don’t go beyond September [with the admission process] or our whole year will collapse. That we are looking at the prospect of a zero year. We will lose ₹16 crore over five years. It will lead to loss of opportunity for 120 students”, he said. NLAT has been devised for only this year. “It is only for one year. Next year we will go back to CLAT”, he assured the court.
The court said it was allowing the NLSIU to conduct the exam because it did not want to add to the stress of students’ by any change in schedule at this last minute.
“Since students are ready, exams can be held tomorrow [September 12]. We will not stay their holding. But you will not declare the results or hold admissions until we decide”, Justice Bhushan observed.
