CLAT PG: Plea Challenges Counselling Fee as ‘Exorbitant’; Delhi HC Seeks Govt, BCI Reply

The Delhi High Court on Monday, June 23, 2025, issued notice on a plea filed by a CLAT-PG candidate challenging the counselling fee charged by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), calling it “exorbitant.”

The matter was heard by a bench presided over by Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta.

While the bench declined to grant immediate relief, it sought responses from the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), the Bar Council of India (BCI), the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the Union Government. The bench further directed that the authorities shall respond to the issue by July 2.

The petition before the high court was filed by Jatin Srivastava, who secured an All India Rank of 474 in CLAT‑PG.

Appearing for Srivastava, Advocate Siddharth R. Gupta argued that while there was a mandatory Rs 30,000 refundable counselling registration fee for the first round, an additional Rs 20,000 was required to participate in the second round held on June 20.

Gupta contended that CLAT-PG is the only entrance exam in the country where such a steep amount is required merely to participate in counselling.

Calling the fee structure unreasonable, the plea urged the court to allow the petitioner to participate in the upcoming round without having to pay the additional amount.

The matter is now likely to be heard on July 2.

With inputs from Indian Express & PTI