Mangaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to condone attendance shortage of 17 students from Milagres Degree College, Mangaluru after they were not permitted to answer the semester exams due to attendance shortage.

The move comes after 17 students filed a writ petition in the High Court as they were not allowed to answer the exams.

Sources say that the students claimed that they had paid the requisite fee and had also completed four semesters in the college. Moreover, the petitioners said that they were from poor families and had attended all classes. The students alleged that there were not informed of their attendance shortage at regular intervals.

However, the Advocate representing the College produced documents before the court to prove that the College had informed parents regarding attendance shortage. Copies of letters that were sent to parents were also produced before the court. It is said that the College also conducted special classes which helped several other students’ secure 75% attendance while a few did not take those classes seriously. Thus, as per rules by the University, the students were not given hall tickets.

The Court stated that it could not direct the College to permit the petitioners to answer the exams as they had shortage of attendance.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shanawaz, III BBA student of the College, who had assaulted Principal Fr Michael Santhumayor over the attendance issue, is still in judicial custody.