National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore had decided to conduct its own home based online entrance test for the students who seek admissions in the University for Under-Graduate (UG) Courses. This comes as the CLAT 2020 was postponed. The notification issued by the University states that the decision to hold a separate test was keeping in view that NLSIU has a trimester system. This poses unique difficulties for NSLIU if the conduct of the law entrance test is delayed beyond September 7.
Candidates will be selected based on the aggregate marks secured in an online home-based Entrance Examination known as the National Law Aptitude Test, 2020 (NLAT). The National Law Aptitude Test, 2020 (the “NLAT 2020”) will test applicants for admission to the undergraduate B.A., LL.B. (Hons), and postgraduate LL.M programs commencing in 2020 at the National Law school of India University, Bengaluru (“NLSIU“).
Supreme Court of India decided to cancel the NLAT 2020. The apex court noted that admission to all 20 National Law Universities (NLUs) which are part of the Consortium will be done based on CLAT 2020 exam, which is scheduled to be held on 28th Sept 2020.
Earlier, the court had allowed NLSIU to hold NLAT 2020 on 12th Sept 2020 but had barred the university from declaring NLAT 2020 Result or from granting admission based on the entrance test.
Law aspirants, who had appeared for NLAT 2020 exam held on 12th Sept, will now have to reappear for CLAT 2020 exam which has been earmarked as the sole examination for admission to all 20 National Law Universities in the country with all the exam guidelines and precautionary measures that have been announced by the Union Health Ministry.
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralized national level entrance test for admissions to 22 NLUs in India.
The judgement on the plea challenging holding of NLAT 2020 was passed by a 3 judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy, and M R Shah.
The judgement was delivered on a plea that was filed by former NLSIU vice-chancellor Professor R Venkata Rao and the parent of an aspirant. During the earlier hearings, petitioners had also highlighted the ‘failed’ manner in which the NLAT 2020 exam was conducted which raised questions transparency of the examination.
The petition filed by advocate Vipin Nair stated that the Memorandum of Association of consortium of National Law Universities mandated a common test for National Law Universities across the country.
The plea termed holding of a separate examination as “manifestly arbitrary and illegal”.
Critics viewed this could lead to the further balkanisation of national law school admissions, as had been started by NLU Delhi, which has its own entrance test.
NLSIU’s action had created unprecedented uncertainty and has imposed an onerous burden and obligations upon thousands of aspirants, who are now uncertain about the future course of action, the plea claimed. Reacting to the judgement, advocate Nair, for the petitioners said it is a victory for 77,000 students, who are scheduled to appear for the CLAT. “The disadvantaged ones from a village will get a chance at the premier law entrance exams. It is now a level-playing field for all. It is a balanced judgment,”
