The Karnataka State Law University (KSLU) has introduced a 1% horizontal reservation for transgender students seeking admission to its three-year LL.B programme, while also reducing the minimum eligibility requirement to 40% marks.
The development came before the Karnataka High Court during proceedings concerning the admission rights of transgender students in legal education.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice TP Vivekananda took note of the university’s latest admission notification, issued on September 16.
The notification was issued following a special government order dated September 15, under which KSLU incorporated the 1% reservation for transgender candidates and relaxed the eligibility requirement for the three-year LL.B course.
The proceedings stem from a petition filed by transgender candidate Mugil Anbu Vasantha, who had challenged the admission framework of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.
In December 2024, the High Court had held that NLSIU’s existing admission and financial aid arrangements did not sufficiently secure equal opportunities for transgender candidates. The Court directed the institution to frame a dedicated reservation and financial aid policy before the next academic admission cycle.
As an interim measure, NLSIU was also directed to reserve 0.5% of seats for transgender candidates and provide a fee waiver.
NLSIU later appealed against that decision.
During the latest hearing, KSLU’s counsel placed the September 16 admission notification before the Bench and pointed out that the transgender reservation had been incorporated in accordance with the government’s directions.
However, Vasantha, who appeared personally before the Court, raised a practical concern. The deadline for submitting applications was due to expire the next day, leaving prospective transgender applicants little time to benefit from the newly announced reservation.
The Additional Advocate General and KSLU’s counsel submitted that the 1% quota would operate as a horizontal reservation in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
The Court also took note of the government’s order, which stated that the inclusion of the transgender reservation in KSLU’s admission notification would remain subject to further orders of the Court and the guidelines that may ultimately be framed in the proceedings.
The Bench observed that the present matter was an appeal filed by NLSIU and that an earlier interim direction had already required one seat to be kept aside for Vasantha. The Court further noted that KSLU had already accepted Vasantha’s application.
Against this backdrop, the Bench declined to grant the additional relief sought by Vasantha in the ongoing writ appeal, observing that any further relief would have to be pursued through appropriate proceedings.
The matter has been listed for September 29.
The question of transgender reservation in Karnataka’s educational institutions has been under consideration in the proceedings for several months.
In November 2025, the High Court sought assistance from the Additional Advocate General and asked the State to place its policies and position on transgender reservation before it. KSLU was subsequently brought into the proceedings as a party.
During a hearing in July 2026, the State informed the Court that the Women and Child Welfare Department had conducted a survey to gather data concerning reservation for transgender persons in educational institutions.
The State had also indicated that it would examine the issue and take an appropriate decision, while considering the existing 1% horizontal reservation for transgender persons in government employment.
