Bombay High Court Rebukes Law Student, Dismisses Review Plea Over Attendance Shortage

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a review application filed by an LL.M. student of Maharashtra National Law University, holding that review proceedings cannot be used as a substitute for an appeal. The Court observed that the student was merely attempting to reopen issues already decided in her earlier writ petition challenging the university’s attendance requirements.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Ajit B. Kadethankar was hearing the plea filed by Ankita Jagannath Sonawale. Her writ petition had previously been rejected after the university barred her from appearing for the second-semester LL.M. examination due to inadequate attendance.

The student sought reconsideration of the judgment, alleging errors in attendance calculation, discrimination, and failure to consider her medical condition. She also requested production of attendance records and CCTV footage related to grievance proceedings.

Rejecting these contentions, the Court noted that university regulations require 75% attendance. A relaxation policy was available only to students securing at least 67% attendance with valid medical grounds. The Bench observed that even according to the student’s own calculations, her attendance was only around 51%, far below the prescribed threshold.

The Court further criticised several allegations made against university authorities and a fellow student, describing them as reckless and unsupported by evidence. Emphasising the limited scope of review jurisdiction, the Bench reiterated that a review cannot be used to re-argue a case already decided. While dismissing the application, the Court refrained from imposing costs considering the applicant was a student.