Andhra Pradesh High Court Sets Annual Schedule for LLB Admissions from 2026 to Curb Delays
Safiya Malik
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Challa Gunaranjan directed the State authorities to streamline the admission process for law courses from 2026, holding that delays in notifications, entrance tests, and counselling adversely affect the academic curriculum of candidates. Acting on a public interest plea highlighting repeated postponements in admissions to three-year LL.B., five-year LL.B., and LL.M. programmes, the Court mandated fixed timelines for issuing notifications, conducting entrance examinations, declaring results, and completing counselling.
The petition was filed as a public interest litigation raising concerns regarding delays in admissions to law colleges in Andhra Pradesh. The petitioner contended that the admission cycle conducted by the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education experienced recurring delays beginning from the issuance of notifications to the completion of counseling, resulting in disruption of the academic schedule for candidates pursuing 3-year LL.B., 5-year LL.B., and LL.M. courses. It was stated that notifications were generally issued in February or March, entrance examinations were conducted in May, and results were declared in June, yet the counseling process extended as late as November. The petitioner asserted that this delay violated Rule 10 of the Legal Education Rules, 2008. The petitioner also pointed out that approximately 9,000 seats across law colleges needed to be filled annually.
The respondents submitted that no statutory timeline existed for completing the counseling process and attributed the delay to the heavy workload of conducting multiple examinations and counseling sessions. They also stated that delays occurred due to universities not granting affiliations to colleges in time and the Bar Council of India subsequently needing to approve such affiliations under Rule 26 of the 2008 Rules. The issue before the Court concerned whether such delays adversely affected academic schedules and whether a fixed timeline should be prescribed.
The Court noted that “the delay which occurs in making admissions to law colleges… results in disturbing the academic schedule of the candidates who are required to undergo the law courses.” It recorded the petitioner’s submission that “approximately 9,000 seats are required to be filled up in various law colleges in the State” and that “notification for admissions is issued… in the month of February and March, the entrance examination is conducted in the month of May and the results generally are declared in the month of June.” The petitioner further stated that “even when the result is declared in or around the month of June, the counseling process is not initiated… even as late as the month of November,” leading to late commencement of classes, which “violates Rule 10 of the Legal Education Rules, 2008.”
The Court recorded the State’s submission that “there is no statutory time line prescribed… but what is stated is that on account of its preoccupation and busy schedule, the delay generally occurs,” and that the Council conducts “as many as 11 entrance examinations for various courses… coupled and followed by counseling session which generally takes time.” It further recorded that “delay also occurs on account of failure on the part of the Universities to grant timely affiliations to the colleges” and that the Bar Council of India must grant approval “in accordance with Rule 26 of the Rules, 2008.”
After reviewing the material, the Court stated: “We are convinced that the Council cannot delay the process of completing the admission in various law colleges… and therefore we feel that time limits have to be prescribed.” It noted that the counselling process “shall be completed, in any case, not later than 25th of August with a view to enable the colleges to start the academic year in the first week of September.”
The Court directed: “The notification inviting the applications from eligible candidates for admission in various law courses in the State shall be issued in the month of February and not later than first week of March of a particular year. The entrance examination shall be conducted in the month of April and not later than 15th of May of that year. The result of such an examination shall not be declared later than 15th of June. It is also necessary for the Universities to accordingly prescribe a schedule for either the existing colleges or colleges who wish to get affiliated, so that the entire process of grant of affiliation is completed by the University within a specified time leaving enough time gap for the colleges to approach the Bar Council of India for the requisite approval. The concerned Universities shall also keep in mind Schedule XIII of the Rules, 2008. The aforesaid schedule shall be applicable from the next year i.e. 2026 onwards.”
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Petitioner: Thandava Yogesh, Party-in-Person
For the Respondents: GP for Higher Education; Mr. O. Udaya Kumar, Standing Counsel for Sri Krishnadevaraya University; Mr. M. Chalapathi, Standing Counsel for Nagarjuna University; Mr. Ramesh Babu Talluri, Standing Counsel for Sri Venkateswara University; Mrs. K. Radhika
Case Title: Thandava Yogesh v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Others
Neutral Citation: APHC010394292024
Case Number: W.P. (PIL) No.153 of 2024
Bench: Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Justice Challa Gunaranjan
