The Delhi High Court has highlighted the urgent need to reassess mandatory attendance requirements in colleges and universities, noting that teaching methods have evolved significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The court observed that these changes, along with the mental health challenges faced by students, necessitate a re-evaluation of current attendance policies.
A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma remarked that the issue of mandatory attendance should be addressed at a broader level rather than being confined to specific courses or institutions. The bench suggested that instead of penalizing students for low attendance, educational institutions should find ways to encourage class participation.
The court expressed its inclination to form a committee to study these issues and propose uniform practices for undergraduate and postgraduate courses regarding attendance requirements.
This observation was made during a hearing related to the 2016 suicide of Sushant Rohilla, a third-year law student at Amity Law University, who took his life after allegedly being barred from sitting for semester exams due to insufficient attendance. The Supreme Court initially took up the matter in September 2016 before transferring it to the Delhi High Court in March 2017.
The high court noted that regulatory bodies and universities have historically mandated attendance requirements in their statutes. However, the court suggested that these norms may need to be revisited in light of the widespread adoption of virtual classes and online education, particularly after the pandemic.
“The issue of mandatory attendance is also a cause for concern among the younger generation, which views education differently today. Education is no longer restricted to classroom teaching and increasingly extends to practical areas,” the bench stated.
The court emphasized the need to differentiate between professional and non-professional courses when considering attendance standards and suggested that global practices should be studied to determine whether mandatory attendance is necessary.
The bench also pointed out that many students juggle education with employment to support themselves and their families, which should be considered when setting attendance requirements. Additionally, the court acknowledged the disparity between urban and rural areas, where technology may not be as accessible, further complicating uniform attendance policies.
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The high court has asked for wide consultations, including input from teachers and students, to develop attendance standards that reflect the modern educational landscape. It also scheduled a hearing on September 9, inviting responses from the Union of India, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on this matter.
