OP Jindal Global University faces HC notice on LLB (Hons.) course

Punjab and Haryana High Court issues notice to university, UGC, and BCI on a plea by the student alleging misrepresentation.

Written by Manraj Grewal Sharma

Updated: October 9, 2025 07:58 AM IST

3 min read

Students say they paid fees for the Hons. degree but were awarded a plain LLB, prompting calls for inquiry and compensation University

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to OP Jindal Global University on a plea alleging it falsely offered an unapproved LLB (Hons.) course.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to OP Jindal Global University, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the Bar Council of India (BCI) on a petition alleging that the Sonipat-based private university misrepresented its law programme by offering admissions to an LLB (Hons.) course without having recognition to confer such a degree.

The petition, filed by a student who enrolled in 2022, contends that the university prospectus, admission offer letter, fee schedule, and even the identity card issued to him explicitly described the programme as LLB (Hons.). Relying on these representations, the petitioner said he paid Rs 22.68 lakh in fees over three years, only to be awarded a plain LLB degree upon graduation in June 2025.

According to the plea, the university later claimed that the mention of Hons. was a “typographical error” and that it was never authorised to run an LLB (Hons.) programme. The petitioner argued that this amounted to gross misrepresentation, breach of legitimate expectation, and an unfair trade practice, causing serious harm to his academic and career prospects.

Advocate Nikhil Ghai also pointed out that the Bar Council of India’s list of approved courses only permits OP Jindal Global University to offer a three-year LLB programme, not LLB (Hons.). Around 300 students of the 2022 batch were allegedly affected, all admitted under the impression that they were pursuing the Hons. course.

Seeking a writ of mandamus, the petitioner, represented by Ghai, has urged the High Court to direct the UGC and BCI to conduct an inquiry and take strict action against the university, including cancellation of recognition if violations are established. He has also sought either correction of the degree to reflect LLB (Hons.) or compensation of Rs 30 lakh for financial loss, mental agony, and loss of career opportunities.

Highlighting the academic and professional implications, the plea stated that an LLB (Hons.) degree carries greater academic weight and is often treated as a higher standard qualification by foreign universities and scholarship bodies, thereby enhancing prospects for higher studies and employment.

A division bench comprising Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Parmod Goyal, while issuing notice, observed that the petitioner had been led to believe throughout that he was admitted to an LLB (Hons.) course, and even his university ID card reflected the same. The court recorded that the university’s defence rested on its claim of typographical error.

The matter will now be heard on December 16.

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