Defaulter notice was for students to explain attendance gaps, uphold rules, clarifies GLC Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Following an uproar over an attendance-related notice, the Government Law College clarified that it was rolled out to ensure compliance with Mumbai University rules and to allow students to present their valid reasons. The college informed that those ‘defaulting’ students who cited ‘legitimate’ and ‘reasonable’ grounds for shortfall in their responses before the attendance committee have been exempted.

A day before the final semester exams scheduled for April 16, GLC Mumbai labelled more than 62 percent students as “attendance defaulters”, sparking a wave of concern among students.

Emphasising that the intent of the notice dated April 12, 2025 was procedural and not disciplinary, the college principal, Asmita Vaidya, in a statement said, “It is to be noted that the requisite procedure for maintaining, recording and enforcing attendance mandates is undertaken by the College, to ensure compliance with Guidelines of the University of Mumbai (Ordinance No. UG01/2014) and the Rules of Legal Education, 2008 promulgated by the Bar Council of India.”

GLC noted that the “widespread media coverage” of the original notice has led to anxiety and apprehension among students regarding possible punitive action. “It is clarified that the said notice rolled out for ensuring that the defaulting students could put forth their contentions before the Academic Committee, and for ensuring compliance with University and BCI Guidelines,” the Mumbai college reiterated.

GLC semester exams

GLC further assured students of its commitment to their wellbeing and to fostering a healthy academic environment. It expressed hope that the clarification would put student concerns to rest and restore calm so that they can ‘confidently’ appear for the ongoing university examinations, “bringing us the ever fruitful results that GLC takes pride in.”