V. KAMESWAR RAO, J
CM No. 40556/2017
This is an application filed by the petitioner seeking condonation of 15 days delay in filing reply to the intervenor application. For the reasons stated in
the application, the delay of 15 days in filing reply to the intervenor application is condoned. Application stands disposed of.
W.P.(C) 7980/2017
1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following prayers-
“In the above premise, it is most humbly prayed that this Hon’ble Court be graciously please
i. Call for the records of the abovementioned election pertaining to the petitioner; ii. to issue a writ of certiorari quashing the impugned order dated
06.09.2017 and all actions of the respondents’ before and after rejecting the candidature of the petitioner; iii. to pass such other orders and further
orders as may be deemed necessary on the facts and in the circumstances of the case.â€
2. It is the case of the petitioner that he filed nomination for the post of President in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections on
September 04, 2017. On the same day, a provisional list of 36 prospective candidates for the post of President was notified by the Chief Election
Officer Sh. S.B. Babbar, the respondent No.2 herein on the basis of preliminary scrutiny. It is averred, on September 05, 2017, the respondent
No.2 initiated an enquiry against the petitioner on the basis of an “e-mail received by DUSU 2017-2018 Election Commission†citing a disciplinary
action against the petitioner taken by his college in the past. It is averred that the copy of the said e-mail was not supplied to him and the name of the
sender of e-mail was kept secret. On September 06, 2017 information was sent by the Principal of the College in the affirmative that disciplinary
action was taken against the petitioner. The e-mail of the Principal was sent by the University to Panel Lawyer and Deputy Dean (Legal) for their
legal opinions.
3. It is alleged that the Panel Lawyer / Dy. Dean (Legal) had given a hurried affirmation. On the same day, the respondent No.2 declared the
petitioner as non-eligible to contest the post of President, DUSU. It is stated the action is arbitrary and the statement of the Principal is contradictory
to the character certificate issued. On the same day, the representative of the National Students Union of India, at the request of the petitioner filed a
complaint through an e-mail stating arbitrary action of the Election Commission in rejecting the candidature of the petitioner.
4. A counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents, wherein it is stated that according to the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations, the
candidate shall not have a previous criminal record, that is to say he should not have been tried and/or convicted of any criminal offence or
misdemeanor. The candidate shall also not have been subject to any disciplinary action by the University authorities. It is stated the petitioner
undertook to abide by the Code of Conduct for the candidates contesting DUSU elections. It is stated, as per the Code of Conduct every candidate is
required to furnish an affidavit along with the security deposit, to the effect that (i) He/she does not have any previous criminal record and has not
been subjected to any disciplinary action by the University / College (ii) Has not failed in the previous academic year or readmitted in the current year.
A reference is also made to Clause 19 of the Code of Conduct, which provides that contravention of any of the above provisions of Code of Conduct
may make candidate liable to be striped of his candidature, or his elected post, as the case may be. The College / University may also take appropriate
disciplinary action against such violator. Further, Clause 22 of the Code of Conduct states, notwithstanding anything contained in the aforesaid Code of
Conduct, the directives of the Supreme Court Judgement dated September 22, 2006 shall prevail. The petitioner submitted an affidavit as required for
contesting the Delhi University Students Union election 2017-2018 for the post of President. The petitioner stated in his affidavit that he has carefully
read the constitution of DUSU; Code of Conduct for the candidates contesting DUSU elections; Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations as accepted
by the Supreme Court vide its judgment dated September 22, 2006 in the case of University of Kerala v. Council, Principals, Colleges, Kerala and
others and National Green Tribunal’s order dated July 18, 2016 and he shall abide by all the rules/provisions contained thereto. In case of violation
of the same, his candidature may be cancelled and he be stripped of his elected post, at any stage. The petitioner had filed his nomination on
September 04, 2017 for the post of President in DUSU election. However, four complaints were received on September 04th and 05th, 2017 by the
office of the respondent No.2 conducting the DUSU election that the petitioner does not fulfil the criteria for contesting the DUSU elections. He
initiated the enquiry into the matter and the Principal of the Shivaji College where the petitioner studied was contacted. The Principal, Shivaji College
then sent an e-mail confirming that the disciplinary action was taken against the petitioner. He had sent a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the
disciplinary committee along with the apology letter of the petitioner. It transpired that the complete record was sent to the respondent No.2 with
regard to the disciplinary action taken against the petitioner by the said College in the year 2014 when the petitioner was student of the said College.
5. On September 06, 2017 the respondent No.2 after considering the matter in entirety was of the view that nomination of the petitioner could not be
accepted on the basis of complaints of disciplinary action taken against the petitioner by Shivaji College in the year 2014. Accordingly, the petitioner
was informed of the decision of the Chief Election Officer, DUSU vide letter dated September 06, 2017. It is stated that the representation made by
the petitioner against the cancellation of nomination was of no consequence in the given facts. It is urged that a strong action should be taken against
the petitioner for breaching the election Code of Conduct of the University of Delhi and the Lyngdoh Committee report, as according to the
respondents the petitioner had mislead the Court and has also deliberately suppressed the material facts and furnished false affidavit, which is a
serious offence. The respondents have also stated that the petitioner has failed to disclose that he was a student of M.A. Part I (Buddhist Studies) in
the academic session 2016-2017 and could not clear paper 101 (first semester 2016), paper 201, 202 and 203 (second semester 2017). It is also stated
that the petitioner after failing to clear his paper in M.A. (Buddhist Studies) Part I in the academic session 2016-2017 withdrew his admission from the
Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi. After withdrawing his admission, he took admission once again in M.A. Part-I (Buddhist
Studies).
6. A rejoinder to the counter affidavit has also been filed.
7. It may be stated here that an application being CM No. 34670/2017 has been filed by one Rajat Choudhary, who is said to be a first year student of
M.A. Political Science at Moti Lal Nehru College, University of Delhi, seeking his intervention. I may only state here that in his intervention
application, the applicant therein has primarily stated that in terms of clause 6.5.7 of the Lyngdoh Committee, which has been accepted by the
Supreme Court for implementation, clearly stipulates that the candidate shall not have a previous criminal record, that is to say he should not have been
tried and/or convicted of any criminal offence or misdemeanor. According to the applicant, the petitioner has not disclosed the material fact that in the
year 2014 an FIR bearing No. 860 dated August 06, 2014 was registered against him in the Police Station Rajouri Garden under Section
308/323/341/34 and the petitioner was kept in judicial custody from August 28, 2014 to September 15, 2014. The applicant also averred that he has
come to know from the reliable sources that the police has filed a charge sheet in the abovesaid matter and the petitioner is an under trial of the
serious and grave offence like attempt to murder, criminal trespass etc. The applicant has also stated that the petitioner is also ineligible to contest the
election, inasmuch as the petitioner took admission in M.A. (Buddhist Studies) in academic session 2016-2017 under the Roll No. MA (P) 8 and
University Roll No. 71533. The petitioner appeared in the first semester under the said Roll number. However he suffered Essential Repeat â€" 101 in
first semester and Essential Repeat â€" 201, 202, and 203 in the second semester of the said course. As per the election Code of Conduct, the
petitioner was required to give an undertaking that he has no academic arrears, that is to say there are no pending papers to be cleared by him. In
order to overcome the said clause of the Lyngdoh Committee, the petitioner on August 16, 2017 moved an application to the Head of Department of
Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi for the withdrawal / cancellation of his admission in the said course. The said application was accepted and his
admission was cancelled. However, on August 16, 2017 itself a waiting list for the admission in the same course for which the petitioner had requested
for cancellation appears in most callous manner and this waiting list reflects the name “..a.Rocky Tushir†and through this differently spelt name
the petitioner took a fresh admission just at the difference of few hours after ditching the complete software of Delhi University in most fraudulent
manner.
8. A reply has been filed by the petitioner. In the said reply, the petitioner challenged the maintainability of the application by the applicant. It is also
stated, the scope and ambit of the writ petition as filed by him is limited to the decision of the respondent No.2 and has to be tested on the basis of
material as was available on the file of the respondent No.2 and nothing more. In other words, it is stated that the respondent No.2 cannot alter or
change its stand now before this Court. It is also stated that the applicant had lost the election to the petitioner and as such the application is a
motivated one. A reference is also made to an FIR registered against the applicant. It is also stated that in the past also, number of candidates were
allowed by the Election Committee of the Delhi University to contest election despite having FIRs registered against their names. With regard to the
FIR, it is stated by the petitioner, he has not been tried or convicted, hence the stipulation of 6.5.7 shall not be applicable. In other words, even though
a charge sheet has been filed, but no charges have been framed against the petitioner. On the aspect of fresh admission, it is stated that the petitioner
took admission in M.A. (Buddhist Studies) in the academic session 2016-2017 in the name Rocky Tuseed. He had already applied for change of name
to ‘..a.Rocky Tushir’ and the same was published in the National Gazette on March 04, 2016. According to him, he was advised by the College
authorities at the time of admission that he can get his name changed any time during the academic session 2016-2017 and that when petitioner
requested the College authorities to change his name as per the Gazette notification during the academic session 2016-2017, the Authorities declined
his request and asked him to get a decree from the Court to that effect. Thereupon, the petitioner moved a declaration suit before the Civil Judge,
Patiala House Court, New Delhi which was consequently not decreed in his favour. The petitioner acted upon the advise of the College authorities to
take fresh admission in M.A. (Buddhist Studies) in academic year 2017-2018 under the new name ‘..a. Rocky Tushir’ and appeared in fresh
entrance examination with the new name and cleared the same. But in order to take fresh admission the petitioner had to withdraw from his earlier
course and apply for fresh admission in the academic session 2017-2018 based on his entrance result. It is stated that the College authorities rejected
his request to admit the petitioner under his new name as all the other academic records reflected his old name and the suit for declaration was not
decreed in his favour and instead offered to give him admission under his old name i.e Rocky Tuseed.
9. Mr. Mukul Gupta, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the challenge in the present Writ petition is to the letter dated
September 06, 2017, issued by the respondents rejecting the petitioner's representation against rejection of his nomination/candidature for election to
the post of President of the DUSU. This was done after he was provisionally declared as a candidate on September 04, 2017. The only basis of the
rejection is that the petitioner is alleged to be not eligible as some disciplinary action was taken against him and he has filed a false affidavit. Mr.
Mukul Gupta submitted, the respondent University appears to have held some sort of enquiry between September 5, 2017 and September 6, 2017 at
the back of the petitioner. The contents of the inquiry were not disclosed to the petitioner. The petitioner was not associated with the said enquiry nor
provided any opportunity of hearing, neither prior to the decision nor post decision. He was not given any material in respect of the alleged ground for
his disqualification. Even on a subsequent representation dated September 7, 2017 to the Grievance Committee as well, he was not provided any
hearing. However, it was only on September 7, 2017, the petitioner was provided with some of the documents exchanged relating to the said enquiry
and thus the petitioner was compelled to file the Writ Petition on September 7, 2017 itself. Mr. Mukul Gupta stated, the petitioner did not had time to
represent to the Grievance Committee against sketchy documents, as some of them were clearly procured and fabricated. The petitioner filed the writ
merely to seek natural justice. The Delhi University for the first time on July 11, 2018, during the course of hearing provided copies of certain
documents and another set of documents on July 12, 2018 after the judgment was reserved by this Court relating to the said enquiry. Ex facie none of
these documents were the basis of the rejection. None of these were filed with the counter affidavit.
10. It was the submission of Mr. Mukul Gupta, after the petitioner was declared successful, the defeated candidate on September 19, 2017 filed an
application seeking intervention by placing certain facts and documents which were not part of the enquiry of the Delhi University. Thereafter, on
January 04, 2018 the Delhi University filed its short counter affidavit to the writ petition, wherein also it was not disputed that either any notice was
given or was the petitioner allowed to participate in the proceedings against him. Mr. Mukul Gupta submitted, the Delhi University in its short counter
affidavit used all those documents which were used by the intervener in his application which did not form part of the supposed enquiry. Mr. Mukul
Gupta at the outset, pointed out that such an application by the defeated candidate or anybody else, who is not party to such enquiry, is not permissible
in the writ. The applicant is neither the complainant nor a witness in the Enquiry, and hence, is a third party. Further, even as per Lyngdoh Committee
Report, the complainant and the person against whom an action is sought to be taken will have to appear and make good its case. Mr. Mukul Gupta
submitted, the present writ petition will have to be examined from the standard of Judicial Review of the administrative decision. It is well settled that
Judicial Review is only permissible to the extent of finding out whether the process in reaching at the decision has been followed correctly and not to
find out the correctness of the decision itself. Critical or independent analysis or appraisal of the materials/evidence by the Court exercising power of
judicial review is not permissible unlike that by an Appellate Court. The Court while exercising the power of judicial review cannot substitute its own
views for the views of the authority. It is not akin to adjudication of the case on merits as an appellate authority.
11. It was the submission of Mr. Mukul Gupta, that no show cause notice was ever served upon the petitioner nor such fact has even been contested
by the respondent. He made a reference to the judgment in the case reported as (2003) 4 SCC 557 Canara Bank v. Debasis Das to contend that
adherence to principles of natural justice is a must. The first and foremost rule under Principles of Natural Justice is Audi Alteram Partem. Notice is
the first limb of this principle. It must be precise and unambiguous. It should apprise the party determinatively of the case he has to meet along with
adequate time to respond to the same. In the absence of a notice of this kind and such reasonable opportunity, the order passed becomes vitiated. In
fact, it was held in the case reported as (1967) 2 SCR 625 State of Tamil Nadu v. Dr. Miss. Binapani Dei that even an administrative order which
involves civil consequences has to be consistent with Principles of Natural Justice by informing the party of the case against him, the evidence is
support thereof and giving him an opportunity of being heard and explaining the evidence against him. Similarly, it was held in the case reported as
(2013) 16 SCC 771 Mahipal Singh Tomar v. State of UP that non providing of material would vitiate the order passed. In the case reported as (1993)
3 SCC 259 DK Yadav v. JMA Industries, it was held that it was a fundamental rule of law that no decision must be taken which affects the rights of
a party without first being informed of the case and giving him/her an opportunity of putting forward his/her case. There is no material to show what
materials were used to disqualify the petitioner. There is no show cause notice, no reply sought from the petitioner, no record of hearing and no
speaking order on Court record till date. Mr. Mukul Gupta also submitted, the intervenor applicant and the respondent University seek to validate the
action of cancellation of nomination by producing fresh material before this Court. He submitted that this Court cannot go into these materials and the
validity of the impugned order has to be judged only on the basis of the material before the authority and the reasons provided. It was held by the
Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the case reported as AIR 1978 SC 851 Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner that when a
statutory functionary makes an order based on certain grounds, its validity must be judged by the reasons so mentioned and cannot be supplemented
by fresh reasons in the shape of affidavits or otherwise. Otherwise, an order bad in the beginning may, by the time it comes to the court on account of
a challenge may get validated by additional grounds brought out. Further, the Supreme Court in the case reported as (1978) 2 SCC 586 Union of India
v. HP Chothia held that material supplied by a third party who was not involved with the decision making process cannot be considered. Relying on
Mohinder Singh Gill (Supra), it was held in the case reported as (2016) 1 SCC 724 State of Punjab v. Bandeep Singh that there can be no gainsaying
that every decision of an administrative or executive nature must be a composite and selfsustaining one, in that it should contain all the reasons which
prevailed on the official taking the decision to arrive at his conclusion. It is beyond cavil that an authority cannot be permitted to travel beyond the
stand adopted and expressed by it in the impugned order. Ultimately, the Supreme Court in the case reported as (2013) 14 SCC 225 State of
Maharashtra v. Namdeo held that after exercising the power of judicial review, even if the Court comes to a decision that the order is flawed or
perverse, the High Court can, at the most, remit the matter back to the authority. He submitted, the ground that the petitioner had an FIR against him
is of no consequence as the disqualification as per the Lyngdoh Committee Report is attracted only if a person has been ‘tried’ or
‘convicted’ of an offence, whereas the petitioner was never tried for any criminal offence. In the Constitution Bench judgment reported as
(2014) 3 SCC 92 Hardeep Singh v. State of Punjab, it has been held that the trial in a criminal case starts only once the charges have been framed and
not before that. Hence, pendency of an FIR or even the filing of a chargesheet will be of no consequence. Mr. Mukul Gupta further submitted that
none of the prescribed penalties were imposed upon the petitioner as a consequence of the alleged disciplinary inquiry, which could be termed as
disciplinary action by the college/University rules and as per the Lyngdoh Committee. Any other purported action which does not fall within the realm
of prescribed penalties above cannot be termed as ""disciplinary action"" under the Lyngdoh Committee.
According to him, it is an admitted case of the respondent University that as per the Code of Conduct, the guidelines laid by the Supreme Court
affirming the Lyngdoh Committee Report shall be given credence over any other rule or provision made by the University. He also relies upon the
following judgments in support of his contention:-
(i) (2010) 10 SCC 408 State of Assam v. Union of India & Ors;
(ii) (2003) 9 SCC 592 Syed Naqshbandi v. State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(iii) AIR 1996 SC 1232 State of Tamil Nadu v. S. Subramanium;
(iv) (2012) 5 SCC 443 Heinz India (P) Ltd. v. State of UP;
(v) (1997) 3 SCC 657 Rae Bareli Kshetriya Gramin Bank v. Bhola Nath Singh
(vi) (1993) 3 SCC 552 Harpal Singh Chauhan v. State of UP;
(vii) (2012) 6 SCC 357 Registrar General, High Court of Patna, v. Pandey Gajendra Prasad;
12. On the other hand, Mr. Mohinder J.S. Rupal, learned counsel for the respondents submitted as directed by this Court the record of the Chief
Election Officer, DUSU election 2017 relating to complaints received against the Petitioner as well as the response received from Principal Shivaji
College has been already tendered for consideration by this Court. He submitted during oral arguments before this court, the petitioner has himself
filed part of the record of the Disciplinary proceedings to which he was subjected to while undergoing B.A. History (Honours) Course in Shivaji
College in the year 2014. Nowhere the petitioner has alleged in the petition that the said record was made available only subsequently as was
otherwise alleged orally by the counsel for the petitioner. He stated, the petitioner has also filed with the Writ Petition, the two legal opinions
separately sought by the Chief Election Officer before passing the Impugned Order dated September 06, 2017 rejecting the Candidature of the
Petitioner. The petitioner malafidely and intentionally suppressed this material fact while contesting for the post of President DUSU election 2017,
though Lyngdoh Committee guideline 6.5.7 specifically lay down the eligibility criteria for candidates wherein it has been clearly mentioned that ""the
Candidate shall also not have been subject to any disciplinary action by the University authorities"". He submitted, not only this, the Petitioner had also
sworn an affidavit and submitted the same before the Chief Election Officer as per mandatory requirement to contest election wherein in Clause 5 of
the said affidavit the Petitioner falsely stated that ""I have not been subjected to any disciplinary action by the University/College"". He in the said
affidavit also gave an undertaking that he has carefully read (i) the Constitution of DUSU (ii) Code of Conduct for the Candidates contesting DUSU
Elections, (iii) Lyngdoh Committee recommendations as accepted by the Supreme Court of India vide its judgment dated September 22, 2006 in the
case entitled ""University of Kerala v. Councils, Principals, Colleges Kerela & Ors"". And (iv) National Green Tribunal’s order dated July 18, 2016.
He promises to abide by all the Rules/Provision contained thereto. In case of violation of any of this by him, his candidature may be cancelled/he may
be stripped of his elected post, at any stage.
13. Mr. Rupal further submitted, the petitioner has not denied this affidavit tendered before the Chief Election Officer, DUSU Election 2017. Hence
all the documents referred above have been admitted by the Petitioner and thus admitting that he was subjected to disciplinary proceedings while
studying in Shivaji College. He also submitted, that the petitioner gave a representation to the Chief Election Officer on September 07, 2017. None of
the grounds as sought to be raised during the oral arguments have been raised either in the said representation or in the Writ Petition. Hence, there is
no case made out by the Petitioner to seek any challenge to the impugned order dated September 06, 2017. He stated, though the Chief Election
Officer has rejected the Candidature of the Petitioner on the sole ground that he was subjected to disciplinary action and consequently furnished a
false affidavit in this regard but this Court may also take judicial notice of another vital fact, that the petitioner also violated the law as laid down by the
Supreme Court in the case of University of Kerala (supra), more particularly Clause 6.5.4. Mr. Rupal stated, the complaints received against the
Petitioner, the 'Petitioner indeed had academic arrears. But to overcome this prohibition took fresh admission in the same course. But even this could
not overcome the express undertaking given by the Petitioner in the affidavit sworn and tendered before the Chief Election Officer that ""I have not
failed in the preceding academic year/or readmitted in the current year"". It is well laid down principle of law that what cannot be done directly cannot
be done indirectly. Thus on all counts the Candidature of the Petitioner for the post of President deserve to be rejected and hence the Impugned Order
dated September 06, 2017 passed by the Chief Election Officer is valid and proper. The result of the Petitioner was declared subject to the outcome of
the present Writ Petition as per the Interim order passed by this Court. He seeks the dismissal of the present writ petition.
14. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, at the outset it is necessary to reproduce the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of
University of Kerala (supra) wherein the Supreme Court had accepted the recommendations made by the Lyngdoh Committee and directed that the
recommendations made by the Lyngdoh Committee shall be followed in all College / University elections. The relevant recommendations for the
purpose of this case are 6.5.7 and 6.5.8, which reads as under-
“6.5.7. The candidate shall not have a previous criminal record, that is to say he should not have been tried and/or convicted of any criminal
offence or misdemeanor. The candidate shall also not have been subject to any disciplinary action by the University authorities.
6.5.8. The candidate must be a regular, full-time student of the college/university and should not be a distance/proximate education student. That is to
say that all eligible candidates must be enrolled in a fulltime course, the course duration being at least one year.â€
15. In the petition, the petitioner has challenged the communication dated September 06, 2017, the same reads as under-
“Dear Mr. Rocky Tuseed, Please refer to your representations given today challenging the denial of your nomination for contesting for the post of
President, Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU). Your representation was sent to (1) a Delhi University Panel Lawyer and (2) Deputy Dean
(Legal). Their response to your representation are attached. The opinion of both is that you are not eligible to contest the DUSU elections.â€
16. A perusal of the same would reveal that the said communication was accompanied by the opinions of the Panel Lawyer and the Deputy Dean
(Legal). The said opinions are annexed at pages 29 and 30 of the paper book. Suffice to state, the action to declare him ineligible was primarily
because of disciplinary action taken by the College where the petitioner had studied for his graduation.
17. It was the submission of Mr. Mukul Gupta that the respondent Authority appears to have held some sort of enquiry between September 05, 2017
and September 06, 2017 at the back of the petitioner and the contents of the enquiry were not disclosed to the petitioner nor was he associated with
the said enquiry nor provided any opportunity of hearing nor prior to the decision nor post the decision. He was not given any material in respect of the
alleged ground for his disqualification. In support of his submission he had referred to the communications exchanged between the respondent No.2
and the Shivaji College where the petitioner had studied at pages 25 and 26. Suffice to state, the initial communication sent by the respondent No.2
was on September 05, 2017, to the Principal of the Shivaji College. He had called upon the Principal to check the veracity of the statements made
therein and the attachment thereto. In response to the same, the Principal confirms the fact that the disciplinary action was taken against the
petitioner. A copy of the minutes dated November 05, 2014 of the Disciplinary Committee and the apology letter received from the petitioner were
attached. Pursuant thereto, the respondent No.2 sought legal opinions, a reference of which is already made above.
18. Mr. Rupal sought to justify the disciplinary action initiated by the College by referring to pages 27 and 28 of the writ petition, which are the minutes
of the Disciplinary Committee held on November 05, 2014 and apology letter submitted by the petitioner on September 18, 2014. The minutes of the
meeting dated November 05, 2014 refers to his apology and his request to allow him to appear in the final year exam. The minutes of the meeting also
stated that his entry in the college without prior permission is also banned. During hearing, Mr. Rupal had produced some of the documents related to
the disciplinary action initiated against the petitioner. On July 11, 2017, he placed before the Court a compilation of documents, which included
complaints made by certain students; minutes of the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee held on April 01, 2014 summoning the petitioner before the
Committee on numerous times when the petitioner refused to appear. The apology letter of the petitioner, letters of the students; minutes of the
Disciplinary Committee dated April 09, 2014 wherein the Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend the petitioner and another student till they take
their annual exam and a notice issued by the Convener of the Disciplinary Committee with a photograph of the petitioner stating that the entry of the
petitioner, who is the student of B.A. Hons. (History), Fourth Semester into the College is strictly prohibited.
19. After the orders were reserved, a compilation of documents was filed by Mr. Rupal wherein he has annexed certain complaints dated September
04, 2017 and September 05, 2017 received against the petitioner by the Election Commission of the Delhi University from some students with regard
to the petitioner having not cleared certain papers of the M.A. (Buddhist Studies); the petitioner having taken re-admission and the disciplinary action
having been taken against the petitioner. As is clear from the above, the respondent No.2 on the receipt of the complaints did sought information from
the Principal of the Shivaji College where the petitioner had studied. Based on the information, the action was taken by the respondent No.2. The
process, which has been carried out by the respondent No.2 is to ascertain the contents of the complaints. No doubt, the two documents i.e minutes of
the meeting of September 05, 2014 and the apology letter of the petitioner were not put to the petitioner before the impugned action was taken, but the
same is not fatal. Unfortunately, the petitioner does not refer to such an action having been taken against him in his affidavit given along with his
nomination. He also does not mention about such an action having been taken against him in the petition. The action against the petitioner was on the
basis of a complaint made by some students, which inter-alia stated that the petitioner and his friend, had physically abused one student. It is not the
case of the petitioner, at least in the writ petition that the action, which has been taken is not a disciplinary action. Much reliance has been placed by
Mr. Gupta on the Provisional-cum-Character Certificate dated July 19, 2016 issued by the College wherein it is stated that the petitioner bears a good
moral character and has a good conduct during his stay in the College. The plea of the respondents that the certificate was given since he was
allowed to appear in the examination after he apologized for his conduct and the same does not mean that there was no disciplinary proceedings
initiated against the petitioner at the relevant time by the College is appealing. In any case, since the stand of the respondents is based on the
disciplinary action initiated against the petitioner and the minutes of the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee held on November 05, 2014 and the
apology letter of the petitioner himself having been placed on record, the onus is surely on the petitioner to satisfy the conscious of the Court that the
action of the respondents to bar the petitioner from entering the College is not a disciplinary action. Such a submission even though made would not
hold any credence for the simple reason, the compilation of documents as filed by Mr. Rupal, a copy of which was given to Mr. Mukul Gupta, more
specifically the minutes of the Disciplinary Committee dated April 09, 2014 does show that the Committee intended to rusticate the petitioner but
reviewed its decision by suspending him till the annual exam are taken. In any case, the minutes of the meeting of November 05, 2014 does clearly
conclude that the entry of the petitioner without prior permission is banned. The apology letter of the petitioner reads as under:-
“To,
The Principal
Shivaji College,
Raja Garden,
New Delhi
18 September 2014
Respected Madam,
Subject: Apology Letter
I Rocky Tuseed student of BA History Hons IInd year apologize for the mistake. I am extremely sorry for my past incidents. As I earlier applied for
the NOC three times but I did not get NOC, so I want to continue in Shivaji College only. I gave 1st application to Hemant Lamba and next 2
application to PA, Principal Madam and now the admission and migration procedure have also stopped in other Colleges of Delhi University. I request
to you to allow me to study in this prestigious College. I apologize for all my mistakes and my misbehavior and I assure that this won’t happen
again in future and I promise that I won’t take part in any anti-social activity.â€
20. The said decision was followed by issuance of a notice banning his entry without permission by the College authorities, which is unprecedented.
The petitioner has not challenged the complaints made against him; constitution of the Disciplinary Committee / the proceedings held by the
Disciplinary Committee nor the banning of his entry in the College and also the issuance of notice by the College Authorities for the information of all.
Further, the said action having been taken against the petitioner on an apology tendered by him makes it clear that he accepts his misdemeanor, which
resulted in the extreme action of banning his entry in the College, would surely demonstrate that the same was the disciplinary action against him,
which does not require framing of any charge against him. The affidavit given by the petitioner that he was not subject to any disciplinary action by the
University authorities, was not correct. Surely, the ground on which the petitioner was declared ineligible i.e there was a disciplinary action against him
has caused no prejudice to him, if the material regarding the disciplinary action was not put to him before the impugned action was taken as he was
privy to such information and was himself required to disclose it in the affidavit and the petition.
21. I may only refer to Ordinance XV B of the University, which relates to maintenance of discipline amongst the students of the University. The
same reads as under:-
Ord. XV-B Maintenance of Discipline among Students of the University;
1. All powers relating to discipline and disciplinary action are vested in the Vice-Chancellor.
2. The Vice Chancellor may delegate all or such powers as he/she deems proper to the Proctor and to such other persons as he/she may specify in
this behalf.
3. Without prejudice to the generally to power to enforce discipline under the Ordinance. The following shall amount to acts of gross indiscipline.
a) Physical assault or threat to use physical force, against any member of the teaching and nonteaching staff of any institution/Department and against
any student within the University of Delhi.
b) Carrying of, use of, or threat to use of weapons.
c) Any violation of the provisions of the Civil Rights Protection Act, 1976.
d) Violation of the status, dignity and honor of students belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes:
e) Any practice-whether verbal or otherwise-derogatory of women:
f) Any attempt at bribing or corruption in any manner:
g) Willful destruction of institutional property:
h) Creating ill-will or intolerance on religious or communal grounds:
i) Causing disruption in any manner of the academic functioning of the University system
j) Ragging as per ordinance XV-C
4. Maintenance of discipline and taking such action in the interest of maintaining discipline as may seem him/her appropriate, the Vice-Chancellor, may
in the exercise of his/her powers aforesaid order or direct that any students or students a) Be expelled: or
b) Be, for a stated period rusticated; or
c) Be not for a stated period, admitted to a course or courses of study in a College, Department or Institution of the University
OR
d) Be fined with a sum of rupees that may be specified: or
e) Be debarred from taking a University or College or Departmental Examination or Examinations for one or more years: or
f) That the result of the students or students concerned in the Examination or Examinations in which he/she or they have appeared be cancelled.
5. The Principals of the Colleges, Heads of the Halls, Dean of Faculties, Heads of Teaching Departments in the University, the Principal, School of
Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education and Librarian shall have the authority to exercise all such disciplinary powers over students in their
respective Colleges, Institutions, Faculties and Teaching Departments , in the University as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the
Institutions, Halls and teaching in the concerned Departments. They may exercise their authority through, or delegate authority to, such of teachers in
their Colleges, Institutions or Departments as they may specify for these purposes.â€
22. From the above, it is clear that the action of the College to ban the entry of the petitioner was for maintaining the discipline in the College, and as
such a disciplinary action.
23. Further, the action, which has been taken by the respondents is in conformity with the affidavit submitted by the petitioner that in the eventuality
there is any violation of the Code of Conduct for the candidates contesting DUSU elections / Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations, as accepted by
the Supreme Court, his candidature may be cancelled. This issue can be seen from another perspective, inasmuch as when an affidavit is filed by a
candidate contesting the election, the Authority concerned is within its right to verify the contents of the affidavit. The respondent No.2 was within his
right to write to the Principal of the College to verify the contents of the affidavit submitted by the petitioner. In such an eventuality also, the Principal
(in this case) or any other Authority, would be within its right to submit such material to the respondent No.2 if he has any material in his possession
contradicting the contents of the affidavit, which have a bearing on the eligibility of a candidate for standing in the election. This Court cannot lose
sight of the fact that the Supreme Court has accepted the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, which clearly stipulates if a candidate had a
disciplinary action, the same would be a non-eligibility for such a student to stand in the election. The spirit underlying the recommendation is that a
person should have a clean record for standing in the election, cannot be lost sight of.
24. Insofar as the judgments relied upon by Mr. Gupta are concerned, the case of Canara Bank v. Debasis Das (supra) shall not be applicable in the
facts of this case, inasmuch as the petitioner does not dispute that Disciplinary Committee was constituted against him for certain misdemeanor and
resulted in banning of his entry into the College and a notice for the information of all was also issued, that too, on the apology tendered by him, which
is part of the writ petition.
25. Similar, is the position in the cases of State of Tamil Nadu v. Dr. Miss. Binapani Dei (supra), Mahipal Singh Tomar (supra), D.K. Yadav (supra).
26. In so far as the submission of Mr. Gupta that the court while exercising the power of judicial review cannot substitute its own views with the
views of the Authority by relying upon Syed Naqshbandi (supra), State of Tamil Nadu (supra), Heinz India (P) Ltd. (supra), Rae Bareli Kshetriya
Gramin Bank (supra), Harpal Singh Chauhan (supra) and Registrar General, High Court of Patna v. Pandey Gajendra Prasad (supra) is concerned,
there is no dispute on the said proposition. My finding above, does not amount to this Court substituting its own views with the views of the Authority.
Rather, this Court has only tested the view taken by the Authority that the disciplinary action having been taken against the petitioner, the petitioner
shall be ineligible in terms of the Code of Conduct / Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations as accepted by the Supreme Court. The said judgments
are distinguishable.
27. Now coming to the application filed by the applicant namely Rajat Choudhary is concerned, Mr. Gupta has opposed the maintainability of the
application as the same is by a person, who was defeated by the petitioner. There is no dispute that the action challenged is of the Delhi University
declaring the petitioner ineligible for contesting the post of President. It is the legality of the said action, which has to be decided by this Court. The
applicant has sought his intervention on the ground that the petitioner was also ineligible, as per other recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee,
which have been accepted by the Supreme Court, is no reason to seek his intervention, as he is neither proper nor a necessary party. Mr. Gupta may
be right in contending that the order has to be tested on the reasoning given by the University in declaring the petitioner ineligible, which submissions
have already been noted above by relying upon various judgments of the Supreme Court including Mohinder Singh Gill (supra), Union of India v. H.P.
Chothia (supra), State of Punjab v. Bandeep Singh (supra) is appealing. I do not see any merit in the application for intervention. But at the same time,
it must be noted, the petitioner in his affidavit has stated “That I have not failed in the preceding academic year and / or re-admitted in the current
year†which in view of the fact that the petitioner got admission in M.A. Buddhist Studies in August, 2017 in which elections were held, is an
incorrect fact.
28. During the course of his submissions, Mr. Mukul Gupta did mention that the tenure of the petitioner as a President would come to an end in the
month of August, 2018. This Court is of the view, in view of the petitioner’s affidavit and Lyngdoh Committee recommendations as accepted by
the Supreme Court, this Court is bound to decide the issue, which has arisen in this matter. Moreover, this Court had already in its order dated
September 12, 2017, allowed the declaration of the result to the post of President, subject to the outcome of the writ petition. The issue raised in the
present petition goes to the root whether the petitioner could at all stood for election to the post of President. The answer to which is “Noâ€. In
view of the above discussion, this Court is of the view that the challenge to the communication dated September 06, 2017 rejecting the representation
of the petitioner and treating the petitioner to be ineligible for the post of President, Delhi University Students Union cannot be faulted.
The writ petition is dismissed. No costs.
CM No. 34671/2017
Dismissed as infructuous.
