Orissa High Court Steps In: Will NLU Odisha Admit Student After Admission Mix-Up?

In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has intervened in the case of Punyatoya Barma, a student who lost an academic year due to an admission error by NLU Odisha. The court has mandated that the university either admit her if a seat becomes available by the end of November or pay her Rs 1 lakh as compensation. This decision highlights the importance of adhering to eligibility criteria in educational institutions and the potential consequences of administrative errors. The ruling is a pivotal moment for Barma, who had initially been misled by the university's provisional admission process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 26, 2026, 22:54 IST

Court Ruling on Admission Controversy

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has intervened on behalf of a student who lost an academic year due to a mistake by NLU Odisha regarding her eligibility under the domicile quota. The court has instructed the university to either admit her if a seat becomes available by the end of November or compensate her with Rs 1 lakh.

A Division Bench consisting of Justice BP Routray and Justice Savitri Ratho issued this ruling following a petition from Punyatoya Barma, who achieved an All India Rank of 61 and an Odisha Domicile Rank of 6 in the entrance examination for the three-year LLB program for the academic year 2026-27.

Barma completed her Class XII education in Baragada but obtained her undergraduate degree from Kalinga University in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. She argued that NLUO had initially set eligibility criteria that allowed candidates under the Odisha domicile quota to take the entrance exam if they had completed Class XII in Odisha. She was permitted to sit for the exam and was provisionally admitted.

However, NLUO contended that the criteria for 2026-27 specified that candidates under the domicile quota must have graduated from a recognized institution in Odisha with a minimum of 60% marks. The court found that the admission notification clearly stated the requirement for graduation from an Odisha institution, rendering Barma ineligible since she graduated from Chhattisgarh.

The court dismissed her argument of estoppel, citing Supreme Court rulings that an incorrect selection that contradicts established eligibility criteria does not grant a right to admission.

Recognizing that Barma was not at fault and had lost an academic year based on the university's provisional admission, the Bench ordered NLUO to admit her if a seat opens up by November 30. If no seat is available, NLUO is required to pay her Rs 1 lakh as symbolic compensation. The court emphasized that this ruling should not be considered a precedent.