The Karnataka State Law University (KSLU) has provided 1% reservation for transgender students in its 3-year LL.B. programme, pursuant to a special order issued by the State Government following directions from the Karnataka High Court.

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (September 21) took on record the KSLU's admission notification incorporating the reservation.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice T.P. Vivekananda was hearing an appeal filed by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) against a Single Bench order directing it to provide 0.5% reservation to transgender persons in admissions.

The Bench had, in an earlier order dated July 20, 2026, directed the State to take steps towards providing reservation for transgender students in legal education.

On Monday, counsel for KSLU placed on record its Admission Notification dated September 16, 2026, and submitted that the notification specifically provides for 1% reservation for transgender persons and lowers the eligibility criterion to 40% marks for the 3-year LL.B. course.

The Court recorded: “Learned counsel appearing for the KSLU-University has placed on record the Admission Notification dated 16.09.2026 and submits that the specification with regard to 1% reservation for transgender persons and the lowering of eligibility criteria to 40% marks in 3-year LL.B Course has been specifically notified therein...The Government Order clearly specifies that the inclusion of the reservation in the Notification will be subject to further orders and subject to Guidelines to be framed in the matter.”

Further during the hearing, the respondent party-in-person, Mugil Anbu Vasanth, a transgender candidate, sought an extension of the application deadline.

Vasanth submitted that the notification had been issued only a few days before the deadline and that transgender applicants needed more time to complete the documentation.

“In the notification providing reservation, they have given only a few days for filing application... It took me one month to get all the documentation done under the court's supervision. No procedural safeguards have been provided in the current notification,” the student submitted.

Vasanth also pointed out that the application deadline was September 22 and the merit list was scheduled to be published the following day.

The State Government however submitted that the present proceedings arose from an appeal and were not in the nature of a public interest litigation seeking wider directions.

The Additional Government Advocate submitted that the Government's order was issued on September 15 and KSLU's admission notification followed on September 16, leaving the authorities little time to incorporate the changes while keeping the admission schedule on track.

The State further submitted that the student's immediate grievance had been addressed, as KSLU had already agreed to reserve seats for him at BMS College of Law and Seshadripuram Law College, subject to the applicable admission process.

The State also informed the Court that a proposal for 1% horizontal reservation for transgender persons in education had been forwarded by the State Women's Development Corporation and would require an amendment to the relevant rules.

However, since legal education falls within the Law Department, a special order was issued specifically in relation to legal education pursuant to the High Court's earlier directions.

The Court ultimately declined to issue further directions sought by the student, noting that the proceedings had been filed by NLSIU and that an interim direction had already been issued for reservation of a seat for the student.

The Court also noted that the student's application had already been entertained by KSLU.

KSLU informed the Court that the student had applied for seats at two affiliated colleges. The Court consequently asked the student to choose one of the two options by the time the merit lists are published, failing which the other seat would lapse.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 29.

Case Title: National Law School of India University v. Mugil Anbu Vasantha & Ors.

Case No: WA 96/2025