Students from leading National Law Universities (NLUs) across India have launched an online petition demanding a revision of the CLAT application and counselling fee structure, labelling it financially exclusionary and inconsistent with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP).
The petition, backed by several prominent student bodies—including the Savitribai Intersectional Study Circle at NALSAR, the NALSAR Student Bar Council, NLSIU’s Savitri Phule Ambedkar Caravan (SPAC), DNLU Jabalpur Student Council, DSNLU Student Bar Association, and NLIU Bhopal SPAC—urges the Consortium of NLUs to significantly lower and reform the existing fee system.
Currently, CLAT applicants are required to pay an application fee of ₹4,000 (₹3,500 for SC/ST candidates), followed by a counselling and confirmation fee of ₹50,000 (₹40,000 for reserved category candidates). Student groups argue that this structure disproportionately affects aspirants from socially and economically weaker backgrounds, acting as a structural barrier to access.
“Students from marginalised communities often lack access to financial assistance at the pre-admission stage. With no upfront aid and educational loans being disbursed only after admission confirmation, the current system places undue pressure on such students,” the representation states.
The students have requested that the counselling and confirmation fees be made refundable for those who opt out of the process and suggested that both fees be merged into a single, reduced, one-time payment to simplify the process.
Notably, the fee system introduced in 2023 requires candidates to pay a ₹30,000 counselling fee and a ₹20,000 confirmation fee separately. This two-tier structure, the students argue, exacerbates financial hurdles.
The issue has also reached the courts. Three CLAT 2025 candidates, with support from the Legal Collective for Students’ Rights (LCSR), have challenged the fee structure before the Kerala High Court. Another candidate has approached the Delhi High Court. The Kerala High Court is set to hear the matter on July 31, while the Delhi High Court has scheduled its hearing for September 9.
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