SANTOSH SINGH Vs. VICE-CHANCELLOR ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ALL these petitions were clubbed and heard together as jointly agreed by the learned counsels for the parties. Salient facts of the cases are not disputed.

(2.) THESE petitions have been filed by certain students, registered bonafide students of the University of Allahabad (called the 'university') and its affiliated Colleges (called the 'colleges') being aggrieved due to inaction of the Respondents in the matters of 'unfair means cases' and failing to discharge their statutory obligation under Uttar Pradesh State Universities Act, 1973 (called the 'act, 1973') due to pendency of criminal proceedings under The U. P. Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act,. 1998 (called the 'act, 1998') and as a consequence thereof these students being prevented from further pursing their respective academic studies.

(3.) FROM the papers, placed by the learned counsels for the petitioners before this Court relating to criminal proceedings initiated on the basis of First Information Reports against some Petitioners, it is evident that these cases are still pending at the stage of investigation even though about a year has elapsed. In others, criminal cases are pending before the concerned Judicial Magistrate. Proceedings relating to use of unfair means are likely to take long and for several years the students' academic career shall hang in uncertainty. It is bound to lead to frustration and desperation in the young generation of the society besides the fact that loss and damage caused to a student by the delay in the decision of these matters cannot be compensated in any manner. Time lost is irretrievable and damage done is irreparable.