Bombay High Court allows law student to write exam in Marathi, rejects plea for question paper in same language

A bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten S. Venegavkar noted that though the examination paper would be in English, the student has liberty to give answers in Marathi.

Bombay High Court however refused to pass any directions on student's plea to have even the question paper in Marathi language. (Image generated using AI)

The Bombay High Court recently allowed a first year law student to write his LLB examination in Marathi language but refused to pass any directions on petitioner’s plea to have even the question paper in Marathi language.

A bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten S Venegavkar noted that though the examination paper would be in English, the petitioner has liberty to give answers in Marathi.

“Now, the petitioner states that even he wants the question paper to be in Marathi, but in view of the Rules (Rules of Legal Education 2008) quoted such directions cannot be given,” the court said.

Background

The petitioner who appeared in person before the court stated that he is B.Sc. B.Ed., however, he is aspiring his career as an advocate and, therefore, decided to join LL.B. course offered by his college affiliated to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

He submitted that his mother tongue is Marathi and his knowledge about English is limited. As a result, he sought directions to allow him to write the exam in Marathi .

He further sought directions to the state government to make available the notes for legal education in Marathi language to all students.

The counsel appearing for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University submitted that the Bar Council of India has given guidelines for the legal education, including maintaining academic standards, curriculum and infrastructure.

Story continues below this ad

The university counsel further clarified that as regards the rules of legal education, English shall be the medium of instruction in both the integrated five year and three year courses.

He argued that if any university allows in full or in part instruction in any language other than English or allows the student to answer the test papers in the periodical and final semester test in any regional language other than English, then the students will have to take English as a compulsory paper.

The counsel submitted that the petitioner would be at liberty to give the answers in Marathi, but the examination paper would be in English language only.

“Though the examination paper would be in English, the petitioner has liberty to give answers in Marathi. It is in view of the Circular No.21/2022 issued by the University on 10.10.2022, wherein it has been stated that except the Science and Technical Education students all others can give answers either in English or in Marathi,” the court said.

Story continues below this ad

The court refused to pass any directions on his plea to direct the state government to make the notes available.

“There need not be any directions to be given to respondent No.2 for making the notes available as it cannot be the duty of the State Government to make the notes available for any course,” the court said.

Ashish Shaji

Ashish Shaji is a Senior Sub-Editor at The Indian Express, where he specializes in legal journalism. Combining a formal education in law with years of editorial experience, Ashish provides authoritative coverage and nuanced analysis of court developments and landmark judicial decisions for a national audience. Expertise Legal Core Competency: Ashish is a law graduate (BA LLB) from IME Law College, CCSU. This academic foundation allows him to move beyond surface-level reporting, offering readers a deep-dive into the technicalities of statutes, case law, and legal precedents. Specialized Legal Reporting: His work at The Indian Express focuses on translating the often-dense proceedings of India's top courts into clear, actionable news. His expertise includes: Judicial Analysis: Breaking down complex orders from the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Legal Developments: Monitoring legislative changes and their practical implications for the public and the legal fraternity. Industry Experience: With over 5 years in the field, Ashish has contributed to several niche legal and professional platforms, honing his ability to communicate complex information. His previous experience includes: Lawsikho: Gaining insights into legal education and practical law. Verdictum: Focusing on high-quality legal news and court updates. Enterslice: Working at the intersection of legal, financial, and advisory services. ... Read More