Most educational institutions have minimum attendance requirements for students to sit for exams. These rules aren’t just about discipline; they are often embedded in regulations and approved by academic bodies. However, their application must still be fair and transparent.
If students fall short of attendance because of casual absence, institutions are within their rights to deny exam permission, provided rules were clearly communicated and uniformly applied. But when shortage arises from medical emergencies, disabilities or officially sanctioned activities, the situation becomes more nuanced.
Colleges should normally have provisions for condonation of attendance up to a limit, subject to genuine proof. Sudden enforcement of hidden rules, inconsistent relaxation for favoured students, or last-minute surprises can be challenged as arbitrary.
Courts tend to respect academic autonomy but step in when there is obvious unfairness or violation of natural justice. Students should keep records of medical certificates, permissions and communications, and raise issues early rather than waiting until exam week.