- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO. 585 OF 2026 (EDN-RES) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 137 OF 2026 (EDN-EX) WRIT PETITION NO. 2298 OF 2026 (EDN-RES) IN WP No. 585/2026 BETWEEN: 1. MR. JAVED KHAN S/O ZABI ULLA KHAN, AGED ABOUT 37YEARS, R/A NO.3, CHRISTIAN COLONY, NEAR MURTHY TOWER, 2ND STAGE, RAJIVNAGAR, MYSURU - 560019. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAMAN VANKDARI M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, M S BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, Digitally signed by CHAYA S A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 BENGALURU - 560001. 2. KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR, NAVANAGAR, HUBBALLI - 580025. 3. PARIVARTHANA LAW SCHOOL REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL, PLOT NO. 436-B, NEAR KRS SIGNAL, METAGALLY MYSURU - 560016. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA B., AGA FOR R1; SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2; R3 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO APPEAR FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER LL.B. EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED IN JANUARY 2026 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS TILL COMPLETION OF HIS LL.B, EVALUATE HIS ANSWER SCRIPTS AND DECLARE RESULTS; AND ETC. IN WP NO. 137/2026 BETWEEN: 1. LINGARAJAMURTHY M.S. S/O SHIVALINGIAH, AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 R/AT 90-1 MUTTANAHALLI B G PURA, KODAGAHALLI MALAVALLI (T) MANDYA KARNATAKA -571 417. 2. MAHADEVASWAMY B.M. S/O MAHADEVAIAH, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, R/AT 60/A AMBEDKAR BEEDI, BADANAVALU NANJANGUD (T) MYSURU KARNATAKA- 571 312. 3. RAVIKIRAN N.B. S/O BASAVARAJU, AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, R/AT BEHIND GOVT.GIRLS HOSTEL SIDDARATHA NAGAR NEW EXTENSION MALAVALLI (T) AND (D) MANDYA KARNATAKA - 571 430. 4. VIVEKA D.N. S/O NAGANNA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, R/AT DADAMAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST MALAVALLI (T) MANDYA (D) KARNATAKA -571 430. 5. MANJU S/O NANJUNDA SHETTY, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/AT 72/5, WARD-5 GALIPURA EXTENSION NEAR SPS GRANITES FACTORY - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 CHAMRAJANAGAR KARNATAKA-571 313. 6. RAGHU K V S/O VISHNUKANCHI, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, R/A 3649, WARD NO.21, AMBIGARA CHOWDAIAH KERI, MALAVALLI, MALAVALLI (T) MANDYA KARNATAKA-571 417. 7. NAGENDRA K.S. S/O SHIVANNACHAR, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, R/AT HOSAKANNAHBADI VILLAGE PANDAVAPURAM MANDYA (D) MANDYA KARNATAKA - 571 812. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NAMAN VANKDARI M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, M. S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR, NAVANAGAR, HUBBALLI 580 025. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 3. BHAGAWAN BUDDHA LAW COLLEGE REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR CIRCLE, KOLLEGALA MAIN ROAD CROSS, MALAVALLI, MANDYA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA- 571 430. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA B., AGA FOR R1; SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2; R3 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO PERMIT THE PETITIONERS TO APPEAR FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER 3 YEARS LL.B. EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED IN JANUARY 2026 (16.01.2026) AND ALL SUBSEQUENT SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS TILL COMPLETION OF THEIR 3 YEARS LL.B COURSE, EVALUATE HIS ANSWER SCRIPTS AND DECLARE RESULTS; AND ETC. IN WP NO. 2298/2026 BETWEEN: 1. MR. MANJUNATHA H.S. S/O HANUMANTHAPPA K. AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/A CHIKKAKOGALUR DAVANGERE HIREKOGALUR - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 KARNATAKA- 577 552. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAMAN VANKDARI M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, M. S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. KARNATAKA STATE LAW UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR, NAVANAGAR, HUBBALLI-580 025. 3. PARIVARTHANA LAW SCHOOL REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL PLOT NO.436-B, NEAR KRS SIGNAL METAGALLY, MYSURU- 560 016. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA B., AGA FOR R1; SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2; R3 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE ADMISSION APPROVAL LETTER DATED - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 08.01.2026 ISSUED BY (NO. KSLU/REG/ACAD/ ADMSNAPPR/2025-26/2192(4)) RESPONDENT NO. 2 (ANNEXURE-A), INSOFAR AS IT DISAPPROVES AND REJECTS THE PETITIONERS ADMISSION TO THE FIVE-YEAR INTEGRATED BBA LL.B. COURSE; AND ETC. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH ORAL ORDER 1. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties. 2. In these Writ Petitions, the question to be answered is as to whether the JOC integrated course/ Diploma Course/ITI Course, is equivalent to 10 + 2 (Pre-University) in order to assess the eligibility of petitioners for admission to the LL.B. Course. It is argued by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners by referring to the Order of this Court dated 09.12.2024 in W.P.No.31737/2024 at Annexure-C1 and the Order dated 23.09.2025 in W.P.No.107077/2025(Annexure-C2) that, the respondent-University has been directed to consider the JOC Course as integrated Course equivalent to PUC for the - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 purpose of admission to the three years' LL.B. Course. In this regard, it is also argued by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners by referring to the Rules of Legal Education, 2008 (Exhibit-D) issued by the Bar Council of India and submitted that the JOC integrated programme / Diploma Course/ ITI Course are to be considered as the level in Senior School Certificate Course and therefore, equivalent to the Pre- University Course. 3. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the respondent - University and the learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondent - State, opposed the Writ Petitions. However, despite sufficient time has been given, statement of objection has not been filed by the respondents herein. In that view of the matter, following the declaration of law made by this Court in W.P.No.31737/2024 (Annexure- C1) disposed of on 09.12.2024 and the Order dated 23.09.2025 in WP No. 107077/2025 (Annexure-C2), I am of the view that, the petitioners in these Writ Petitions are eligible for admission to the three years' LL.B. Course. In this regard, paragraph No.7 in W.P.No.107077/ 2025, reads as follows: - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 " 7. The aspect of the eligibility for 3-year LLB course has been extensively dealt with by this Court in Rakesh Shetty's case (supra), and this Court has come to a categorical conclusion that, once a degree has been obtained, the said degree would be the qualifying course for being enrolled in the LLB course. The candidate having been held to be eligible for a degree course on the basis of ITI/diploma which had been obtained by the said candidate, the University or any college affiliated to the University cannot deny admission of the student to the LLB course on the basis of the fact that instead of PUC, the candidate had secured an ITI course. The said reasoning of the Court in Rakesh Shetty's case would be equally applicable to the present case also." 4. Following the Orders passed by this Court as per Annexures -C1 and C2, and considering Clause 5(b) of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008 (Exhibit-D), the respondent- University is directed to permit the petitioners to appear in the subsequent semester examinations till the completion of their LL.B. Course. 5. Further, in view of the interim orders passed by this Court in these Writ Petitions, the petitioners have appeared for - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16128 WP No. 585 of 2026 C/W WP No. 137 of 2026 WP No. 2298 of 2026 the I Semester examination during January/February, 2026. In that view of the matter, the respondent-University is directed to announce the result of the petitioners, accordingly. 6. With the above observations, the Writ Petitions are disposed of. 7. Consequently, pending applications in these Writ Petitions, if any, do not survive for consideration. SD/- (E.S.INDIRESH) JUDGE sac List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7