SHEFALI PATHAK Vs. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The short question is whether the Petitioner has completed her 'Practical Training', which is an essential concomitant of the curriculum for the Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering (B.Tech) from the globally acclaimed and prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The fall-out of a finding in the negative is that the Petitioner may become ineligible to pursue further studies in the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow to which she has gained admittance. It has been heavily emphasized by learned Counsel for the Petitioner that she is a brilliant student; and this fact has not been controverted by learned Counsel for the Respondent.

(2.) Annexure P1 is a copy of the "Instructions to students deputed for practical training during summer - 2005.'' The training is compulsory for prefinal year students. It has been specifically stated that the declaration of the Final Year results will depend on the satisfactory completion of this training. It has further been notified that the Certificate issued in this respect should not be handed over to the student concerned, which is exactly what has happened in this case.

(3.) The subject Practical Training ought to have been completed by the Petitioner in the pre-final year i.e. the third year being the previous year. It appears that this could not be done by her as she was allegedly unwell. The Respondent had exercised discretion in favour of the Petitioner by permitting her to complete the practical training during the summer of 2005 so as to be eligible for declaration of her Final Year results.