Women Students Cannot Be Denied Educational Opportunities Due To Pregnancy Or Childbirth: Madras High Court

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has held that women students should not be deprived of educational opportunities solely because of pregnancy, childbirth, or post-natal responsibilities. The Court granted relief to an LL.M. student by permitting her to submit her dissertation and complete the remaining academic requirements for obtaining her degree.

Justice Hemant Chandangoudar passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by R. Sangeetha, who sought permission to remit her dissertation fee, submit her dissertation, participate in the viva voce examination, and obtain her LL.M. degree certificate.

The petitioner had joined the LL.M. course during the 2019–2020 academic year. Although she completed all theory examinations in 2022, she could not submit her dissertation within the prescribed period. She informed the Court that she conceived in March 2024 and later gave birth to a child. Owing to pregnancy, childbirth, and the responsibilities associated with caring for a newborn, she was unable to complete the dissertation within the timeline stipulated by university regulations.

The University opposed the request, relying on the “N+2” rule, which required completion of the course within four years. However, the Court observed that academic regulations should not be applied in a rigid manner when exceptional circumstances exist, particularly those arising from the biological and social realities faced by women.

Noting that the petitioner had already completed all theory papers and was only seeking an opportunity to fulfil the final academic requirement, the Court directed the University authorities to accept the dissertation fee in offline mode, receive the dissertation, evaluate it, and allow her to appear for the viva voce examination. The Court clarified that the order was passed in the peculiar facts of the case and should not be treated as a general precedent.