Read Time: 05 minutes

Synopsis

Ph.D. research scholar and National Students Union of India (NSUI) Secretary, Lokesh Chugh moved the Delhi High Court on Wednesday against Delhi University’s alleged "inaction and delay" in processing his Ph.D. thesis, despite the court setting aside DU’s order debarring him from taking his exams for his alleged involvement in the screening of the banned BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi- “India: the Modi Question” at the Faculty of Arts on January 27. 

The bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued notice on Chugh’s plea and sought response of the Delhi University and other authorities.

Court directed the University to comply with the previous order if there is no stay. Accordingly, court posted the matter for further consideration on July 17.

The plea filed through Advocate Naman Joshi stated that Chugh is a Ph.D. research scholar at the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, University of Delhi. It also stated that at the relevant time, Chugh was not present at the protest site, nor did he participate in the screening in any manner.

During the hearing today, Joshi on behalf of Chugh contended that the Vice Chancellor is exercising a pocket veto and is giving interviews to the Times of India that they’ll appeal against the quashing order of the high court but till date, there was no appeal and no stay. "Almost a month later, no action on my thesis being accepted", he argued.

Notably, on April 27, the single-judge bench set aside Delhi University’s order debarring Ph.D. research scholar and NSUI Secretary, Lokesh Chugh for his alleged involvement in the screening of the banned BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi- “India: the Modi Question” at the Faculty of Arts on January 27. 

The court had opined that action against Lokesh Chugh was taken in violation of the principle of natural justice, and that the reasons were necessary to be assigned by the administrative authority in the order.

"The court is unable to sustain the impugned order dated March 10, 2023. The impugned order is set aside. The admission of the petitioner is restored. Necessary consequences will follow," the court had ordered.

It is to be noted that Chugh's plea had prayed for setting aside the March 10 memorandum, quashing of the February 16 show-cause notice, and expunging of the remarks made in the disciplinary proceedings against Chugh, in view of his exemplary academic record.

Case Title: Lokesh Chugh v. University of Delhi & Ors.