Lucknow Law Students Stage Protest Over Alleged Bias in Viva Marks Evaluation
Students from the faculty of law at Lucknow University's second campus organized a significant protest on Monday, voicing strong concerns about what they describe as arbitrariness and bias in the awarding of viva voce marks. The demonstration highlighted growing discontent among those enrolled in the LLB five-year integrated course, who argue that the internal assessment processes lack essential transparency and uniformity.
Core Issues Raised by Protesting Students
The students have formally submitted a representation to the university authorities, outlining their grievances in detail. Their primary demands include either the normalization of marks with a re-declaration of results or the conduct of a fresh viva voce examination overseen by a newly constituted panel. This action stems from allegations that evaluation practices vary widely across different panels, leading to inconsistent outcomes.
Harshit Shukla, an LLB student, emphasized the impact of these discrepancies, stating, "Many of us received widely varying marks despite similar performance levels. This inconsistency not only affects our current academic records but also has potential implications for our future career prospects."
Broader Concerns About Practical Training and Evaluation
Beyond the immediate issue of viva marks, students have raised additional concerns about the overall quality of their legal education. Devesh Shukla, another LLB student, pointed out practical shortcomings, saying, "Moot court sessions barely functioned as intended, and internships provided little meaningful practical exposure. Yet, the evaluation system seems to disregard these significant gaps in our training."
Akaash Mishra, a third-year LLB student, added a motivational perspective, noting, "The current evaluation system is deeply demotivating for many of us. This protest is not merely about marks; it is fundamentally about ensuring fairness and upholding the credibility of our legal education."
University Response and Next Steps
In response to the protest, Mukul Srivastava, the spokesperson for Lucknow University, acknowledged the students' actions. He stated, "The students have submitted a formal memorandum outlining their concerns. The university authorities are actively considering the matter and will take appropriate action to address the issues raised."
The protest underscores a critical need for:
- Enhanced transparency in assessment procedures.
- Uniform evaluation standards across all panels.
- Improved practical training components in the LLB curriculum.
- Timely resolution of student grievances to maintain academic integrity.
As the situation develops, stakeholders are closely watching how Lucknow University will implement measures to restore confidence among its law students and ensure equitable academic practices.
