Tanveer Singh Kukreja v. University of Delhi and Anr

r\ s- ,l -l' .\t i.+-/ .t s. v IN THT] I{IGI-I COURT w.P.(c) 2981t20r2 OF DELI{I AT NEW DIII,Iil ,Iudgment doted I 9.I 0.201 2 IIARSIII'I'P}iRIWAL I'hrough: Mr.Ravi (iupta, Sr.Advocatc with Mr.Gaurav Gupta, Aclvocate VCl'SLIS IJNIVIIRSI'|Y OI' DIiI,III AND NNIT ..... Ilcspondcnt I'hror"rgh: Mr.A.I'}.S. Ahluwalia, Sr.Advocatcwilh Mr.S.S. Ahluwalia, Advocatc for thc I{esponde nt no.2l Collcgc Mr.M.J.S. Itupal, Advocatc for D.LJ. w.t .(c) 2982/2012 & CM.643s/2012 ANJALI l{liKIIIiJn ..... Pctitioncr' 'I'hrough: Mr.Itavi (iupta, Sr.Advocatc with Mr.(iaurav (iupta, Advocatc VETSTIS I.]NIV]il{SI'|Y OF DBI-III AND ANI{ ..... Itcspondcnt 'fhrough: Mr.A.P.S. Ahluwalia, Sr.Advocatc with Mr.S.S. Ahluwalia, Advocatc for tlrc Rcspondc nl no.2l Collcgc Mr.M.J.S. I{upal, Aclvocatc for D.tl. w.P.(c) 298s/2012 & CM.6436/2012 'fnNvliltlt SINGII Klll(RllJA ..... Pctitioncr -['hrough: Mr.I{avi Gupta, Sr.Advocatc with Ml. G aurav (iupta, Aclvocalc VCTSUS TJNIVI]ITSI'|Y OF DIiI,III AND ANR ..... ftcspondcnt I'hrough: Mr.A.P.S. Ahlttwalia, Sr.Advooatc with MI'.S.S. Ahluwalia, Advocatc fcrl thc ,v.t'.((') 2981,82 & 83/20r2 I'age I of 9 Y

2.

¶3Itcsponde nt no.2 I Coll cgc Mr.M.J.S. Itupal, Advocatc for D.tJ. COITAM: ITON' I}I,I' MII.. .II.]STICE G.S.SISTANI G.S.SISTANI..I (ORIT) I . I{ulc. With thc conscnt of counsel for the partics, prcscnt petitions are sct clown for final hcaring and disposal. I'he aforesaid thrcc mattcrs wcrc hcarcl togethcr, as the facts of thc samc arc altnost idcntical, hcncc, thc sal'nc arc bcing disposcd of by a cotnrnon ordcr. Pctitioners wcrc admittcd to thc respondcnt no.2 collcgc in Il.Com (IIons.) coursc. It is thc case of the petitioners thatthcy rvcrc not allowed to appcar in thc final cxarnination, on account of shortagc of attcndancc. Counscl for thc pctitioncrs subrnits that pctitioncrs werc found short of attcndancc just by 1.50% in aggregate, 1.25% in aggrcgatc and 3.80% in aggregate. Thc pctitioncrs apploached the collcgc, and thc college authorilics had callcd upon the petitioncrs to furnish an undcrtaking to covcr gp thc attcndanco in futurc. 'fhcrcaftcr thc rcspondcnl no2, cclllcgc authoritics issucd achnission tickcts in favour of thc pctitioncrs, pcrmitting tlrcrn to appcar in thc annual cxamination for 2"'r ycar. On 14.05 .2012 thc lcspondcntno.2, collcgc authorities displayed a list of studcnts, who wctc dctaincil frorn appearing in thc annual cxamiualion, ott account of shortagc of attcndancc, whelein narnes of thc pctitioncrs wcrc lbund mcntionccl. 'I'hcrcaflcr thc pctitioncrs imrnediatcly approachcd thc rcspondcut no.2, college, and t'cclttcstcd thc collcgc, to allow thcm to appcar in thc cxatrinatiott, whercupon thc rcspondctll no.2, college inforrned the pctitioncrs that thc list of 14.05.2012 was tcntativc ancl thc collcgc is tcconsidcring thc same. On 15.05.2012 Iltc rcspondcnt no.2, collcgc issuccl another notice which displayccl thc rcviscd list of thc -J t H'.P.((;) 2981,82 & 83/2012 l'uge 2 of 9 \q

¶4studcnts, who wcrc detained from appearing in thc annual cxamination, on accclunt o-[ slrclrtagc of attcndancc. In lhis list as wcll, thc nancs of thc pctitioncrs wcrc urentioned. ltcliancc is placcd on the rnles and ordinanccs of thc respondcnt, univcrsity relating to attcndancc criteria and tlrc undertaking which pclrnits a studcnt to appear for the annual cxamination if hc/ shc has 40Yo attcndancc in thc 1t'ycar, and not lcss than 55oh attcn<lancc in itt and 2"d ycar (combinccl), howcvcr, tirc conccrncd studcnt will bc rccluircd to sign thc undcrtaking that the shortage in thc attendancc will bc rnadc up in the following year. Counscl for thc pctitioners has relicd Lrpon thc r-urdcrtaking subrnitted by the petitioncrs at thc instancc of thc college, to slrow tlrat cach studcnt was to attend not lcss than 40Yo of thc lcctures in cach scmcstcr/ sccond ycar at the disclction of thc Ptincipal of thc collcgc, to show that pctitioners have attcnclccl 44.3yo lccturcs in the scccrnd ycar ancl cumulativc 53.5Yo lectures; attcndecl 44.2 in thc second ycar and cumr-rlative 53.7Yo lectures; and attcndcd 53.2 in Lhc sccond year and curlnlativc 5I.2% lecturcs respectivcly. 11 is thus contcnded by ccrunscl for thc pctilioners that pctitioncrs havc missccl thc 50o/o criteria rnarginally. Another subrnission rnade by counscl for thc pctitioncr is that olloc thc adrnit carcls wcrc handcd over to the pctitioncrs thcy could not havc bccn preventcd fi'om appcaring in the examination. Ilcncc, it is praycd that it is a fit casc for the court to cxcrcisc its discrction and perrnit str-rdcnts to appear in thc cxarnination and be promotcd to tlrc ncxt ycar. 'I'hc prcscnt petition has becn opposcd both by connscl for the collegc and thc oounscl for thc lhriversity. Cclnnscl for rcspondcnt no.2/ collcge snbmits that thc pctitioncrs havc not rnadc ont a casc of violation of any statutory or cclnstitutional provision ancl so thc writ pctition is not rnaintainablc. 'l'hc submission clf counscl aI

5.

¶6H/.t,.((:) 298t,82 & 83/20t2 I'ugc 3 of 9 ,)r" fclr thc rcspondcnl no.2l collcgc on thc clairn of thc pctitioncrs, sccking cxornpticln on thc ground that thcy had submitted undertakings at thc instancc of thc colicge, to show that cach studcnt was to attend not lcss than 40Yo of tirc lcctures in each semestcr/ sccond ycar at thc discretion of the Principal of thc collcge, is that there is no prclvision in 1hc lJnivcrsity Statutc which confcrs any power on rcspondent no.2 to condonc shortage of atlcndancc. lt is further contcndcd that thc pctitioncrs sccurcd thc attcndancc far bclow thc pcrccntagc of 66.66 and so thcy rvcrc rightly. prevcntecl fiorn appcaring in thc examinalions. It is dcnicd that thc action of the Principal is arbitrary and violativc of principlcs oInatural justicc, as thc collcgc has only foilowed the dircctivc of thc lJnivcrsity.

¶7Counscl for thc collcgc furthcr submits thal tho rnonthly attcndancc rccord oI thc pctitioners wcrc postccl on thc collcgc notico boarcls as was instructcd by the llniversity and that thc pctitioncrs wcrc also given clue noticc of thc attending thc classcs rcgularly at thc tirnc of aclmission in thc collcgc as well through thc prospcctus whercin it was spccifically stated as under': "I)isciplinc Attcndance I{ulcs All students arc cxpcctcd to attend classes rcgularly, IJnivclsity Itulcs rccluilc a rninimum attendancc of 66.660A both in lectu'cs and. in tutorials/prcccptorials/practicals separatcly, hcld in cach subject, lailing which a student shall bc allowcd to appcar for thc llniversity I ixarninations."

¶8l'hc cornprchcnsivc attcndancc details for the wholc ycar wcrc postcd and thc list clf thosc who failed to mcet thc cligibility tcquirement vis-Dr-vis attcndancc was also posted. It is subrnitted that thc pclitioncrs werc well awarc about tl-rc attendancc rulcs and also thc conscclllctrccs of violating thc samc, howcvcr, petitioncls chosc to bc unrnindlul of thc saulc. It is I !' H/.t'.((') 298t,82 & 83/20t2 I'age 4 of 9

¶9?^ strongly urgcd by counscl for rcspondcnt no.2 that thc rcsponclent no.2 lras conrplicd with thc directivc of respondcnt no.l datcd 07.02.2012 and postcd thc attcndancc rccords of thc petitioncls, along with all othcr stuclcnts, cln thc Collcgc notice boards. It is ftrrthcr subrnittcd that the rurivcrsity rulc refered to by thc pctitioncrs is no longcr in forcc, as thc salnc was amenclcd and aftcl thc amendtncnt cvcry stuclcnt has to obtain

66.66Yo lbr onc !carlsctncstcr. Counscl lbr thc Delhi l-lniversity has supportcd the stand of thc collcgc. Mr.ltupal, submits that the rcquirement of 66.66% of attcndancc is not a lnerc tcchnicality or fonnality, but has bccn envisagccl kccping in rnind the rulc of cducation in a pcrson's lifc. Mr.Itupal, furthcr subrnits that cclucaticln rccluircs participation which oomcs thror-rgh attcnding classcs, and through the classes a tcachcr imparts l<nowlcdge ancl tlics to irnbibe thc studcnts with such understanding as is anticipatccl by the chosen sutrjcct. Counscl lbr thc lJnivcrsity further subrnits that thc collcgcs of thc ljnivctsitv of Dclhi havc to act in accordancc with thc ruics and rcgulations framcd by the lJnivcrsity l'rorn titnc to lirnc. fhc rclevant plovisions of the rulcs arc madc availablc to thc students through various mcans likc prospectus etc. Mr.Itupal, furthcr subrnits that the notification datccl 07.02.2012 was issucd by the lJniversity and all thc collcgcs arc duty bound to display thc attcndancc cvcry rnonth to cnable a studcnt tcl vcrify thcir attcndance status cvcry rnonth. It is ncxt contcndcd ttrat evcry collcgc and thc stuclents are duty bound to follow the rulcs laid down by thc lJnivcrsity from tirnc to timc. It is for this reasons that cvcry tcachcr is also rcquilcd to kecp a daily rcoord of attcndancc of studcnts and to subrnit thc samc for uploading on thc collcgc wcbsite on al inonthly basis. Ihc [Jnivcrsity has also writtcn to cvct'y College for timc-tablcs of cach teachcr to bc placcd -/.

¶10tv.r,.((.) 2981, 82 & 83/2012 I'age 5 of 9 t" on thc Collcge websitc in ordcr that studcnt.s rnay acquainl thcmsclvcs with thc class schcdule and to facilitatc thcir attcndancc on a lcgular basis in class. Counscl for tlrc respondents havc rclied in the case clf Universitv of'Delhi & Anr. Vs. Vondana Kandsri & Anr., ILPA No.662/20101 whcrc this 'CourL hcld that it is rnandatory 1br stuclcnls to attend classcs in ordcr to lulfil thc rninirnurn attendance critclia to bc allowcd to sit in the cxarnination. I havc hcard.counscl -[or ilrc parties and considered their rival contcntions. 'fhc studcnts arc govcrncd by Ordinancc VII of thc lJnivcrsity, which prclvidcs for thc rninimum al.tcndance which a studcnt must havc to be cligiblc to appeal fol thc cxamination in cach scmestcr I ycar. Itclcvant portion of thc clauses of the Ordinancc VII rcad as undcr: *2 (I) No pcrson shall bc dccmcd to have pursuecl a rcgular coursc of study unlcss thc Principlc of his Collegc/ Ilead of thc I)cpartment conccrncd in thc casc of oandidatcs for thc ll.A. (Pass), ll.A. (Vocational Studics), B.Com (Pass), Il.So. (Gcncral), Il.A. (IIonours), Il. Com (IIonours), B.Sc. (Ilonours) Dcgrccs, thc Principal, School of Corrcspondcncc Courscs and Continuing liducation in thc casc of students registcrcd with thc School, and Ilcad of thc I)epartmcnt concctncd in thc casc of oandidatcs for any othcr l)egrec or Diplorna or Ccrtihcate lixamination is satisficd that the lccpircd conditions in rcspcct ol his instrtrction havc bccn futfilled.

(2) l'hc rcquircd conditions shall not bc dccrncct 1o havc been satisfied in rcspcct of ,thc following degrecs unless thc candidatc has attcnded not lcss than two-thirds of lecturcs and practicals, scparatcly, dclivcrcd in his Collegc ol thc lJnivcrsity, as the case may bc, fol thc coursc of study in cach zrcadcmic year.

(9)(a) Subjcct to thc provisions of sub-clauses (b) and (c) il.

¶12Jo H/.t,.(() 298t, 82 & 83/2012 I'age 6 of 9 1,p

(i) In the casc of a stuclcnt who is sclcctcd as a lnclnber of thc N.C.C. to participate in the annual N.C.C. Carnps or is dcputed to unclcltakc Civil I)efence work and allicd dutics or in thc case of a studcnt who is enrolled in the National Scrvicc Scherne and is dcputccl to variclus public assignment by or with thc approval of thc llcacl of thc institutior-r conccrncd, or a studcnt who is selccted to participate in sports or othcr activities organizcd by the Intcr-lJniversity l]oard or in national or international fixturcs in garncs ancl sports approvcd by thc Vicc-Chancellclr, of a studcnt who is rccluirecl to rcprcsent thc IJniversity at the Intcr-llnivcrsity Youth licstival, or a student who is rccluircd to participato in pcriodical training in thc Tcnitorial Arrny, or a studcnt who is dcputcd by the Collcgc to takc part in lntcr-Collcgc sports or fixtures, debates, scnrinars, symposia or social work projccts, or zr stuclcnt who is lccltrirccl to rcprcsent the'Collcgc conccrncd in dcbatcs and clthcr cxtra-cuLricular activitics held in othcr lJnivcrsitics or such other activitics approved by the Vice-Chanccllor, for this pulpose, in calculating the total numbcr of lectures eto. ciclivcrcd in the Collcgc, or in the lJniversity, as thc casc lnay bc, for his course of study in eaoh acadcmic ycar, thc numbcr of lecturcs eto., in cach subjcct dclivcrcd, during thc period of abscncc lbr that pulposc shall not bc takcn into account. (.) Thc bcneht of cxclusion of lccturcs contctnplatcd in certegories (i) or (ii) of sub-clause (a) abovc, cithcr scparatcly or jointly, shall in no case excced 1/3 of thc total rutnbcr of lcctures dclivcrccl."

¶13Orclinancc VII of thc lJnivcrsity providcs ,[or thc rtrinirnum attcndancc a stuclenl should havc put in, in ordcr to be cligiblc to appcar for thc . cxalninatign each semcstcr 01'ycar, as the case tuay bc. Ordinancc VII (2)

(9) (a) proviclcs for cases of exccption undcr catcgory (i) and (ii) to thc lrinirnum attcpclancc prcscribcd by the same Ordinancc. Catcgory (i) pcrtail.s to stuclcnt taking part in sports, N.C.C., fiom alllong othcr things. Catcgor-y (ii) pcrtains to 'exceptionally hard cascs of studcnts who had tallcn scriously ill or had mct with an accident during thc ycar disabling thcm liom attcndir-rg classcs for a ccrtain pcriocl' could bc cxcluclcd for ty.P.(() 298t,82 & 83/2012 I'uge 7 of 9 I (

¶15?* pluposcs of calcr-rlation of atlendance <jf thc ycal and clcci<Jc carch casc on its own merits. Ilowcvcr, Ordinancc VII (2) (9) (a) has bccn tnadc subjcct to the express provisions containcd in sub clauscs (c). Sub clausc

(c) statcs in unarnbiguous teuns that thc beneJrt of cxclusion clf lccturcs contcpplatcd in thc sub clausc (a) catcgorics (i) and (ii) 'either scparately or jointly, shall in no case exceed Il3 of thc total nttmbcr of lecturcs dclivcrcd.'

¶14pctitioncrs havc not rnentioncd any spccific ground, nor substantiatccl thc salnc by way of clocumcntary proof, lbr not attcnding thc classes rcgularly, but only crnphasized on thc trndcrtaking givcn ert thc instancc clf the collegc, to sh.ow that each strJdcnt was to attend not lcss than 400lo of thc lccturcs in each scrnester/ sccond yearal"thc discrction of thc Principal of thc collcge, to show that pctitioncrs havc attcnded 44.3 tn thc sccond ycar ancl cunulativ c 53.5Yo lccturcs; attcndcd 44.2 in thc sccond ycar and curnulativc 53 3Yo LccLurcs; an<l attendcd 53.2 in thc sccond ycar and cunrulativc 5I.2%o lccturcs rcspectively. 'l'hc stand takcn bv the petitioners in unacccptable in view of the Ordinance VII of the lJniversity. 'Ihc Orclinancc VII of thc lJnivcrsity lays down thc oritelia, according to rvfiich thc pctitidncrs are to attend thc'minimurn 66.660lo classcs in caoh semcstcr / ycar. Whilc counscl'for the pctitioncrs sr-rbrnits that the notification dated 07.02.2012 was not cornplicd with by thc oollcge. 't'his lact is clisputcd by counsel for the college, who submits that thc details of attenciancc of all thc studcnts was displayed on the nclticc board, cvcn othcrwisc tncrcly not following thc clircctions contained in thc notification datcci 07.02.2012 by itsclf cannot bc a gror-tnd to ignorc thc lJnivcrsity Orclinancc which lays down thc critcria of attendance. It is clccrncd appropriate to direct thc collcgc to follow thc notificalion clatcd 07.02.2012 it't lcttcr and spirit and [Jnivcrsity shor-rld monitor thc

¶16ty.t'.(() 2981,82 & 83/2012 I'uge I o.f 9 t7. salrrc and in casc of any violation thc llniversity should takc scrious vicw ol'thc urattcr, scl that thc studcnts arc u,arncd in advaucc with rcgarcl to shortagcs o f attcndancc. In vicw of Ordinance VII, no conscclucntly, thc wlit petitions costs. E -s. -<-^'b"' € G.s.srs'l'ANI, J -it ocrollER l9,2ol2 ssn rclicf can bc grantcd to thc pctitioners, and thc applications stand disrnissed. No H.'.t,.((') 298t",82 & 83/2012 I'uge 9 o.f'9