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2025 Supreme(Kar) 1818

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR, J.
Lakshmi K. Known in Other Name Smt. Lakshmi B.G. – Appellant 
Versus
The Principal Arunodaya Institute of Legal Studies, Bengaluru – Respondent
Writ Petition No. 37568 of 2025
Decided On : 17-12-2025

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Balasubbaiah B.G.
For the Respondent: Girish Kumar R.

An ITI course can be considered equivalent to the Pre-University qualification required for admission to a three-year LL.B. program as per Bar Council regulations.

Headnote:(A) Karnataka State Law University Regulations - Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Three Year LL.B. - The court directed the university to admit the petitioner into the LL.B. program based on prior completion of an ITI course, asserting that it is equivalent to Pre-University education necessary for admission. Relevant judgments cited include Kumar P.S. Vs. State of Karnataka (16.10.2025), Naveenkumar K.V. Vs. KSLU (01.10.2024), and Rakesh Shetty Vs. State of Karnataka (09.12.2024). (Paras 1-7)

(B) Legal Education - The court emphasized that the Bar Council's definition allows for a candidate with a recognized degree to apply for the LL.B. program, and does not require exclusively traditional secondary qualifications. The university's insistence on such exclusivity was deemed unwarranted. (Paras 8-12)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner petitioned for admission to a three-year LL.B. Course after her prior qualification was rejected based on not meeting the traditional Plus Two requirement, citing an ITI course completion instead. (Para 1)

Findings of Court:
The court found merit in the argument that the ITI course suffices as an equivalent to the requisite educational qualification for law school admission, thus quashing the rejection order. (Paras 8-12)

Issues: The main issues addressed were whether an ITI certificate can be considered equivalent to a Pre-University qualification and the validity of the rejection by the university. (Paras 1, 8)

Ratio Decidendi: The court reasoned that as per the Bar Council's criteria, a candidate's prior university degree should override conventional school prerequisites for eligibility in LL.B. programs. (Paras 11-12)

Result: The petition is allowed; the university must admit the petitioner to the three-year LL.B. program and issue the eligibility certificate accordingly.

Table of Content
1. petitioner seeks admission reliefs for ll.b. (Para 1)
2. prior judgments influence current case. (Para 2 , 3)
3. court analyzes previous related cases. (Para 4 , 5)

ORDER :

1. In this petition, petitioner seeks for the following reliefs:-

“1. Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to regularize the Petitioner’s admission to the 3-Year LL.B. Course for the academic year 2025-26 and permit her to remit the examination fees forthwith;

2. Directing the Respondents to withdraw/recall any verbal rejection of the Petitioner’s admission;

3. Alternatively, direct the Respondents to produce the alleged rejection order, if any, issued by KSLU or any statutory authority, failing which the admission shall stand confirmed;

4. Pass such other order(s) as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit, in the interest of justice and equity.”

2. Though several contentions have been urged by both sides in support of their respective claims, the issue in controversy between the parties is directly and squarely covered by the judgment of a co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Kumar P.S. Vs. The State of Karnataka and Others in WP No. 29128/2025 dated 16.10.2025, wherein it was held as under:

In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs:

“(a) To issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or such other writ or direction quashing the impugned endorsement dated 04.09.2025 bearing application Ref.No.LW002S250002659 issued by 2nd respondent vide Annexure-A.

(b) To issue a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to issue an Eligibility Certificate to the petitioner and allow him for admission in 3rd Respondent College pursuant to the application dated 19.08.2025 made by the petitioner vide Annexure-H. (c) Pass any such other order/s or direction that this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper under the facts and circumstances of this case.”

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for respondent No.1 and learned counsel for respondent No.2 and perused the material on record.

3. A perusal of the material on record would indicate that the issue in controversy involved in the present petition is directly and squarely covered by the judgments of this Court in the cases of Sri. Naveenkumar K.V. Vs. The Karnataka State Law University and Ors. W.P. No. 26757/2024 dated 01.10.2024 and Rakesh Shetty Vs. The State of Karnataka and Ors. W.P. No. 31737/2024 dated 09.12.2024.

4. In Sri.Naveenkumar K.V.’s case, (supra) this Court has held as under:

In this petition, petitioner seeks the following relief:

i) Issue a Writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the impugned endorsement bearing Application ref No.LW002S240001257 dated 21.09.2024 issued by the 1st respondent vide Annexure-R and consequently, direct the respondent No.1 to issue eligibility certificate in favour of petitioner by considering his qualification for admission to Three Year Law Degree Course in any of the Recognized colleges of the 1st respondent, in the interest of justice and equity.

ii) Grant such other reliefs as may be deems to be fit to the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."

2. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and learned Counsel for respondent No.1 and perused the material on record.

3. A perusal of the material on record would indicate that issue in controversy involved in the present petition is directly and squarely covered by the judgments of this Court in the cases of Abubakar Vs. Karnataka State Law University and others, W.P. No. 200642/2021 dated 08.12.2021 and N. Dinesh Vs. The Karnataka State Law University, W.P. No. 15723 of 2023 dated 22.08.2023.

“4. In Abubakar's case (supra), this Court has held as under:

"The petitioner has completed his SSLC in the academic year 2009-10 from Urdu High School, Jewargi, District Kalaburagi. Thereafter, he has completed I.T.I (Electrician), a two years course from Shri Noorandeshwar I.T.I, Jewargi in the year 2012. Thereafter, he has passed three

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