- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO. 25719 OF 2026 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SHARATH KUMAR L., AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, S/O. LINGRAJU P., OBALAPURA, SRIRAMPURA POST, HOSDURGA, CHITRADURGA - 577542. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MOHITH C.R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY THROUGH ITS REGISTRAR NAVA NAGAR, HUBLI - 025. 2. KALIDASA INSTITUTE OF LAW COLLEGE TUDA LAYOUT THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL TUMKUR - 572 106. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, ADVOCAE FOR R1; NOTICE TO R-2 IS HELD SUFFICIENT) Digitally signed by PRAKASH N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER WRIT DIRECTING TO INCLUDE TWO YEARS ITI COURSE IN THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA EQUIVALENT TO II PUC OR 10 PLUS 2 IN ANNEXURE -A AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV ORAL ORDER The petitioner, who is stated to have completed two-year I.T.I. course subsequent to SSLC course, has filed the present petition. The petitioner's grievance is that he sought for admission in the college of the second respondent and for such admission, required a Eligibility Certificate from the first respondent - University, which has not been considered. 2. It is admitted that the petitioner has been given the impression that since the petitioner had completed I.T.I. course and had not completed II P.U.C, he was - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 disentitled to be admitted to the LL.B. course. Attention is drawn to the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.18825/2026 dated 20.07.2026 and it is submitted that, in the light of the observations made in the aforesaid petition, the petition may be allowed. 3. Learned counsel, Smt. Saritha Kulkarni, appearing for the first respondent, submits that the observations made in W.P.No.18825/2026 may be taken note of for the present, though identical orders have been challenged in W.A.No.1060/2025 and the present petition may be disposed of, taking note of the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the aforesaid Writ Petition, while making the conclusion arrived at by this Court, subject to the orders to be passed in the aforesaid Writ Appeal. 4. Learned counsel, Sri. Mohith C.R., appearing for the petitioner, submits that the present petition may be disposed of taking note of the order of the Co-ordinate - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 Bench of this Court in the aforesaid Writ Petition and the petitioner undertakes to be bound by the outcome of the order passed in the aforesaid Writ Appeal. 5. The precise issue of eligibility of a student who has completed I.T.I. course, and who has not done his 10+2/II P.U.C. course and eligibility to admit himself to the LL.B. degree programme, has been dealt with in W.P.No.18825/2026. The relevant observations made by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the aforesaid petition reads as follows: "4. The issue involved in the case is squarely covered by the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Mr. Abubakar Vs. Karnataka State Law University and Others, wherein the Co-ordinate Bench has, in paragraph No.8, held as follows: "8. By bare reading of the Rules of Bar Council of India and the Regulations of the first respondent-University, it has to be held that a candidate to be eligible for admission to a three year Law Degree Course should have passed a three years degree program from a recognized University and that he should not have obtained 10+2 or graduation through an open University system. Neither the Rules nor the Regulations - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 excludes I.T.I course in lieu of PUC or 11th and 12th standards when a student wants to get admitted to a three year Law Degree Course. When that being the situation, the first respondent-University in its notification for admission to three year Law Degree Course for the academic year 2020-21 cannot insist upon that the students should have only studied in Pre-University or 12th standard. It should consider I.T.I course for two years as equivalent to Pre-University or 12th standard. Further, the notification also does not expressly state that I.T.I is not equivalent to +2. For the said reasons, it has to be held that the second respondent has committed an error in not admitting the petitioner to the course of three year LL.B Degree programme only on the ground that he has not completed +2, but has studied I.T.I before obtaining a valid three year degree from a recognized University." The Co-ordinate Bench has held that, the qualification of the petitioner therein is equivalent to that of '10+2'. I concur with the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench. 5. In view of the above discussion, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The writ petition is allowed; ii. The respondents are directed to issue eligibility certificate to the petitioner and admit him to 5 year LLB course, wihtin one month from today; iii. Pending IA(s), if any, shall stand disposed of." - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010561102026 NC: 2026:KHC:49235 WP No. 25719 of 2026 6. In the light of the same, the present petition is disposed of on the same terms. 7. The first respondent is directed to issue Eligibility Certificate to the petitioner to enable his admission to the five-year LL.B. course. Such Certificate to be issued within fifteen (15) days from today. 8. Needless to state, the petitioner's undertaking to be bound by the outcome of the order to be passed in W.A.No.1060/2025 is taken note of. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of. Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE SJK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30