CUSAT continues with 'nullified' age bar policy, prevents thousands of law aspirants above 20 years

New Delhi: Cochin University has announced its Common Admission Test (CAT) 2018-19 Brochure continuing the ‘nullified’ age bar policy. This prevents thousands of law aspirants who have attained an age above 20 years from applying against the five-year integrated law programmes. It should be noted that the age bar policy had already been declared ‘null and void’ w.e.f. from March 3, 2017, after the Supreme Court through an order stayed the Bar Council of India’s age policy.

Through its order, the Supreme Court had directed all Indian law schools to admit candidates for five-year and three-year LLB programmes irrespective of their age.

What does the CUSAT CAT 2018-19 Brochure mention for admissions in law programmes?
Candidates applying for B.Com LLB (Hons.) and BBA LLB (Hons.) programmes should not have completed 20 years of age as on July 1st of the year of admission and 22 years in the case of SC/ST and OBC candidates.

How does it affect candidates?
“I thought after the Supreme Court’s order on age cap, I could fill any law programme application form across India, but according to CUSAT CAT’s 2018-19 brochure, I am ineligible for the five-year integrated law programmes as I am 21 years old,” says Shelly Gomes, a CUSAT CAT law aspirant. This isn’t just an issue facing Shelly Gomes but also affecting thousands of other aspirants who despite having an interest in pursuing the Cochin University law programme have now been restricted from doing so.

What do the CUSAT officials have to say on this?
Careers360 on behalf of the CUSAT CAT law aspirants has spoken to Cochin University on this. “We have reported this to the Academic and Admission Councils in the presence of the University Vice-Chancellor. A decision will be finalized in the next week,” informed Dr. KK Saju, the Academic Admissions Director at Cochin University.

About CUSAT CAT Law Programmes
Cochin University offers admissions into the law programmes through CUSAT CAT Law entrance exam. The university intakes 30 students each for B.Com and BBA LLB programmes and 40 seats are offered in LLB programmes. The CUSAT CAT for five-year integrated law programmes is scheduled to be held on April 28, 2018, between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, while that for LLB programmes on April 29, 2018, between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.