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Synopsis

Ph.D. research scholar and National Students Union of India (NSUI) Secretary, Lokesh Chugh recently submitted before the Delhi High Court that Delhi University has already awarded some of his batchmates their PhD thesis submission certificates.

The court was hearing Chugh’s plea against 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. 

“Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-university prays for some time to seek instructions and to file response qua the averments made by the petitioner. List this matter on 05.10.2023”, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered on August 10.

It is to be noted that on May 24, the High Court had issued notice in the plea and sought response of the Delhi University and other authorities.

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.

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 also 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.