HC allows law student maternity relief for course completion
Madurai: Academic regulations cannot be applied in a manner that ignores the realities faced by women students during pregnancy and motherhood., Madras high court has observed. The court said this while directing the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University to permit an LL.M. student to submit her dis
By Ram Sundaram
Madurai: Academic regulations cannot be applied in a manner that ignores the realities faced by women students during pregnancy and motherhood., Madras high court has observed.
The court said this while directing the Tamil Nadu Dr.
Ambedkar Law University to permit an LL.M. student to submit her dissertation and appear for the viva voce examination.Justice Hemant Chandangoudar passed the order on a petition filed by R Sangeetha, a student of Madurai Government Law College, who sought permission to remit the dissertation fee, submit her dissertation and complete the remaining requirements for obtaining her LL.M. degree.According to court records, Sangeetha joined the course during the 2019-20 academic year.
Owing to shortage of attendance, she was re-admitted during 2020-21 and completed all theory examinations in 2022.
The dissertation and viva voce were the only pending requirements for award of the degree.The petitioner submitted that she delivered a girl child on December 7, 2024.
Due to pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal responsibilities, she was unable to complete and submit the dissertation within the period prescribed under the university regulations.The university opposed the plea, stating that under the “N+2” rule adopted pursuant to UGC guidelines, a student admitted in 2019-20 was required to complete the course within four years and there was no provision permitting submission of a dissertation beyond that period.Rejecting a strict application of the regulation, the court observed that “academic regulations cannot be applied in a manner that completely ignores exceptional circumstances, particularly those arising out of biological and social realities faced by women students.”The judge further held that “a woman undergoing pregnancy and thereafter caring for a newborn child cannot be placed on the same footing as an ordinary student for the purpose of strict application of academic timelines.”Referring to UGC guidelines on maternity and child-care benefits, the court said educational institutions “cannot adopt a rigid or mechanical approach” and should provide reasonable accommodation so that women are not deprived of educational opportunities due to pregnancy or childbirth.Holding that denial of relief would render years of academic effort futile and cause disproportionate hardship, the court directed the university to accept the dissertation fee in offline mode, receive the dissertation, evaluate it, permit the petitioner to participate in the June 2026 viva voce examination and issue the degree certificate if she successfully completes all academic requirements.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in MaduraiStay updated with the latest Madurai news.
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