- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.110119 OF 2025 (EDN-EX) BETWEEN: SRUSHTI D/O. RAGHAVENDRA KULKARNI, AGE. 19 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT, R/O. ‘KAMADHENU’, MAHISHI ROAD, NEAR BAGALKOT PETROL BUNK, TAL. AND DIST. DHARWAD-580 001. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. SURABHI KULKARNI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY, REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR, NAVANAGAR, TAL. HUBLI, DIST. DHARWAD-580 025. 2. THE KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY, REPRESENTED BY REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR (EVALUATION) NAVANAGAR, TAL. HUBLI, DIST. DHARWAD-580 025. 3. THE KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY’S LAW SCHOOL, REPRESENTED BY DIRECTOR, NAVANAGAR, TAL. HUBLI, DIST. DHARWAD-580 025. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.L. PATIL, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO ADMIT THE PETITIONER TO 2ND YEAR OF B.A., LL.B. (HONS). AND TO PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO TAKE UP THE EXAMINATION FOR III SEMESTER B.A., LL.B. (HONS). AND ETC.,. Digitally signed by VIJAYALAKSHMI M KANKUPPI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to:- a) Issue a writ of mandamus to direct the Respondents to admit the Petitioner to 2nd year of B.A., LL.B. (Hons). And to permit the Petitioner to take up the examination for III Semester B.A., LL.B. (Hons). And; b) Issue any other writ or direction which this Hon’ble deems fit to meet the ends of justice.” 2. It is the case of the petitioner that she got admitted to the course of B.A., LL.B. (Hons) in respondent No.3 College which is affiliated to respondent No.1 University. The petitioner took up the I Semester exams and cleared two out of five subjects. Further, the petitioner appeared for the II Semester exams and cleared four out of five subjects. The results of the II Semester repeaters’ exams were announced on 20.12.2025. It is stated that as per Regulation 15 of the Regulations Governing the Five Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons) Intergrated Honors Degree Course in Law, a student who has completed all the courses in - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 the examination by securing at least 40% is eligible to pursue next academic year programme. However, clause (ii) (a) of Regulation 15 states that the University can permit a student to pursue the programme in the second academic year even if he has not successfully completed three out of all the courses prescribed for study in the first academic year. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the respondent No.1 University has not permitted the petitioner to get admitted to the second year of the course and is also not permitting her to take up the III Semester examination. The last date of application for the students to submit application for exam was on 17.12.2025 and the tentative date for commencement of exams is on 08.01.2026. Since the petitioner's results of repeaters’ exam for II Semester were announced only on 20.12.2025 and since she is not permitted to get admitted to the second year, the petitioner has not been able to apply for the examination. It is submitted that the petitioner has no other effective alternative remedy but to file this writ petition. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner has to complete the course within seven years. If she is not permitted to appear for the second year examination, it would cause lot of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 prejudice to the petitioner and it would have an impact on her career. Hence, the prayer sought by the petitioner may be accorded by this Court. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents has relied upon Regulation 15 which reads as follows: “15 PROMOTION 1) A student who has completed all the courses prescribed for the two semesters in an academic year by securing not less than forty percent of the marks in each of the courses shall be eligible to pursue his studies in the next academic year of the programme. i) Provided that the University may a) permit a student to pursue the programme in the second academic year even if he has not successfully completed three out of all the courses prescribed for study in the first academic year; b) permit a student to pursue the programme in the third year although he has not successfully completed three out of all the courses prescribed for study for the second year provided he has successfully completed all the courses prescribed for the first year of the programme; c) permit a student to pursue the programme in the fourth year although he has not successfully completed three out of all the courses prescribed for study for the third year provided he has successfully completed all the courses prescribed for the second year of the programme; d) permit a student to pursue the programme on the fifth year although he has not successfully completed three out of all the courses prescribed for study for the fourth year provided he has successfully completed all the courses prescribed for the third year of the programme. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 e) A student who does not secure a minimum of 40% in any course shall be declared as failed. f) Students who have failed in a course may be permitted to repeat the following end of semester examination provided he or she makes an application to the Principal of the college within the date prescribed by the University by paying required fees. iii) The University shall permit a student to improve his score in any semester when he has secured a minimum of 40% marks in each of the course. iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the University may permit a student who has carried forward not more than three courses from any or all of the previous semesters to continue in the programme provided he successfully completes those courses by the time the final results of the Five Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) programme are announced. v) Student who has filled the exam form by paying prescribed fee but remained absent in the exam shall only be permitted to appear in those subjects along with subsequent semester examination.” 5. It is submitted that when there are 10 subjects in the course and if the student completes 7 subjects and fails in 3 subjects, still the University can consider the case of the petitioner and promote her, whereas in this case, the petitioner has passed only six subjects, not seven subjects. As such, the said rule do not apply and the University has no discretion to promote the student who has not qualified the eligibility criteria as per Regulation 15 (i) and (ii). - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 6. Having heard the learned counsels on either side, perused the entire material on record. The University has its own sets of rules and Regulations Governing the Five Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons) Intergrated Honor’s Degree Course in law. In these kinds of cases involving education and universities, unless and until it is brought to the notice of the Court that the universities fails to adhere to their own guidelines or regulations and are acting contrary to the same, then only the Courts will interfere with the same by exercising the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. In this case, the petitioner is not qualified to be promoted to the second year as per the regulations of the University. Admittedly, she has passed six subjects. The petitioner has not made out any grounds as to why this Court has to exercise the discretion contrary to the guidelines or regulations of the University. This Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India cannot interfere in the education matters without any basis and this Court finds no reasons to interfere. Hence, this Court is passing the following: ORDER i. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:541 WP No. 110119 of 2025 ii. All I.As. in this petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI MEG CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 93