Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Congress Student Leader Lokesh Chugh's Plea Against DU's Delay In Accepting His PhD Thesis

PhD Scholar and National Secretary of NSUI Lokesh Chugh has moved the Delhi High Court against the “inaction and delay” of the Delhi University in accepting his thesis despite quashing of the varsity’s decision to debar him from taking examination for a year over his alleged involvement in screening of BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who quashed the debarment order, issued notice on Chugh’s plea and sought response of the Delhi University and other authorities, while listing it for hearing on July 17.

Chugh, represented by Advocates Naman Joshi and Ritika Vohra, has submitted that he has been running from pillar to post in an attempt to submit his Ph.D. thesis to the varsity, however, no response has been received yet from the authorities.

The plea states that the Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University made a public statement during a media interaction with Times of India that the varsity has been planning to file an appeal against the ruling.

During the hearing today, Chugh’s counsel contended that no such appeal has been preferred by the varsity and that the ruling has not been stayed yet.

Granting liberty to Chugh to mention the case before the vacation bench, Justice Kaurav orally told the varsity to comply with the ruling, in case there is not stay, as per Chugh’s lawyer.

On April 27, Justice Kaurav quashed DU's decision for “violation of natural justice” and restored Chugh’s admission in the varsity.

The court had disposed of Chugh’s plea that challenged the memorandum passed by the office of varsity’s Registrar on March 10 debarring him from taking the examinations for a period of one year. He had also challenged the show cause notice issued by office of the Proctor on February 16 which held that he was involved in disturbance of law and order in the university during the screening of the documentary.

Title: LOKESH CHUGH v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & ORS.