The Delhi High Court has stepped into the fray over the “exorbitant” counselling fees being charged for CLAT PG admissions, seeking answers from the Consortium of National Law Universities, the Bar Council of India, the University Grants Commission, and the Central government. The petition argues that the current fee structure is not just steep — it’s a barrier.
Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta issued notice to the authorities but refrained from halting the ongoing process. “The process is going on, cannot disturb the whole process for one candidate,” he remarked.
The grievance comes from Jatin Shrivastava, a CLAT PG aspirant who secured a rank of 474. He claims that the system demands a non-refundable ₹30,000 upfront just to get a foot in the door. From there, each subsequent step — participating in counselling rounds or freezing a seat — costs another ₹20,000, per round.
“This isn’t guidance, it’s gatekeeping,” his counsel argued in court. According to the plea, the charges are not only disproportionate but in violation of UGC norms and the Supreme Court’s directions on educational affordability.
The petitioner’s side contends that such a system disproportionately affects candidates from modest financial backgrounds. “I couldn’t participate in the second round,” he told the court, “because I simply couldn’t afford the additional ₹20,000, after already paying ₹30,000. And now I’m expected to pay ₹20,000 again to freeze the seat.”
“This is the only national-level entrance exam that demands this kind of money from students,” the counsel said. “And it’s keeping hundreds out.”
The matter is set for further hearing on July 2 in Delhi, while the Kerala High Court is also poised to weigh in on a similar plea on July 22.
The question now: is access to premier legal education being quietly sold to the highest bidder?
