University denying permission to her to appear in the 4th Semester LLB Examination, a student has come up with the above SLP.

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Non­Reportable

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 26484 OF 2018

and

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 102466 OF 2020

in

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 26484 OF 2018

ANKITA MEENA                                                 …    PETITIONER(S)

VERSUS

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI                                     … RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

V. Ramasubramanian, J.

1. Challenging an order of the learned single judge, confirmed by

the division bench in an intra­court appeal, refusing to interfere

with the decision of the University denying permission to her to

appear in the 4th Semester LLB Examination, a student has come

up with the above SLP.

2. We   have   heard   learned   counsel   for   the   petitioner   and   the

learned counsel for the University.

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3. The petitioner joined the 3­year LLB Course at Law Centre­II,

Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in August, 2016. By the time

she joined the course she was already married for about 5 months.

4. The petitioner completed the first 3 semesters without any

hindrance.   However,   she   fell   short   of   the   required   attendance

during the 4th Semester, due to two difficulties. One was that she

gave birth to a baby on 22.02.2018, disabling her to attend the

classes till the end of March, 2018. The second difficulty was that

the Delhi University Teachers’ Association went on a strike from

16.03.2018   and   hence   the   University   could   not   conduct   the

minimum number of classes as prescribed by Rule 10 of the Bar

Council of India Rules.

5. Therefore,   the   petitioner   was   detained   by   a   notice   dated

09.05.2018   and   not   permitted   to   write   the   4th  Semester

Examinations scheduled to commence from 12.05.2018.

6. The petitioner therefore filed a Writ Petition (Civil) No.5194 of

2018 on the file of the High Court of Delhi seeking a direction to

the   University   to   permit   her   to   appear   for   the   4th  Semester

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Examinations. But the writ petition was dismissed by an order

dated 15.05.2018.

7. An intra­court appeal was filed by the petitioner in LPA No.294

of 2018, but the same was dismissed by the Division Bench by an

order   dated   07.09.2018.   It   is   against   the   said   order   that   the

student has come up with the above SLP.

8. On 05.10.2018 this Court ordered the issue of notice in the

SLP. While doing so this Court also permitted the petitioner to

attend   classes   at   her   own   risk   on   completion   of   the   required

formalities.   Subsequently,   several   orders   were   passed   by   this

Court, which are presented in a tabular column by the petitioner in

her application I.A.No.102466 of 2020.  It reads as follows:­

S. No. Date Order(s)

1. 19.11.2018 We have heard learned counsel appearing for

the parties and perused the application for

directions. 

“Learned   counsel   appearing   for   the

respondent­University,   states   that   if   the

applicant   is   qualified   to   appear   in   the

examination, she will be allowed according to

law.”

In view of the above, the instant application

for directions is disposed of.

2. 15.02.2019 “Having heard learned counsel appearing for

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the parties and upon perusal of the instant

application   for   directions,   we   direct   the

respondent­University to permit the applicant

to attend the classes of VI Semester as per

this   Court’s   order   dated   05.10.2018,   on

completion of the required formalities.”

The interlocutory application for directions is

allowed accordingly. 

3. 05.07.2019 The application is allowed in terms of prayer

clause (aa), which reads as under: 

“Direct the Respondent to permit the applicant

to appear in the V Semester Supplementary

Examination to be held on 06.07.2019, as per

the   directions   of   this   Hon’ble   Court   dated

05.10.2018, 19.11.2018 and 15.02.2019.”

The result will be subject to the outcome of

this special leave petition. 

4. 27.08.2019 List after two weeks.

In the meanwhile, counter affidavit may be

filed. 

5. 28.07.2020 “Having   heard   learned   senior   counsel

appearing for the parties and upon perusal of

the   instant   application   for   directions,   we

direct   that   the   results   of   the   present

applicant/petitioner   viz.,   Ankita   Meena,   for

the   IV   and   VI   Semester   results   shall   be

declared by the respondent(s).”

The   instant   applicant   applications   for

directions stand disposed of accordingly.

List   the   main   matter   along   with   connected

matter(s) for final hearing in due course

9. Pursuant to the aforesaid orders, the petitioner appeared for

the examinations of the 4th, 5th  and 6th  Semesters. There are no

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further examinations. The University has also declared the results

of the 4th and 6th Semester examinations, but has not declared the

results of the 5th Semester Supplementary Examination. Therefore,

the petitioner has come up with I.A.No.102466 of 2020 seeking a

direction to the respondent to declare the results of the petitioner

for the 5th Semester Supplementary Examination and to grant the

provisional   degree,   consolidated   mark   sheet   and   character

certificate.

10. When the above interlocutory application came up for hearing,

we took up the main special leave petition also, in view of what is

stated hereunder.

11. From the sequence of events narrated above, it is quite clear:

(i) that the petitioner has completed the course in entirety; (ii) that

the results of all the semester examinations except the 5th Semester

Supplementary Examination has already been declared; and  (iii)

that the lis in the SLP, though relates to the 4th Semester, does not

actually   survive   for   an   active   adjudication   on   account   of   the

subsequent developments. Once the petitioner has completed the

course and also written the 5th and 6th Semester Examinations and

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even got the results of all the semester examinations except the 5th

Semester   Supplementary   Examinations   published,   the

adjudication of the dispute in the SLP will only be a matter of

academic interest.

12. Therefore, the I.A. and the SLP are disposed of directing the

University to declare the 5th Semester supplementary Examination

results of the petitioner and issue the provisional degree along with

necessary certificates, if she had passed the examinations, subject

to the petitioner clearing the other formalities. This order is passed

in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case.

………………………………CJI

(S.A. Bobde)

…………………………………J.

(A.S. Bopanna)

…………………………………J.

(V. Ramasubramanian)

New Delhi

January 22, 2021