DEEPA SIKAND Vs. PANJAB UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) While holding that Miss Riju Chopra was not eligible to be awarded the research scholarship and the grant of it to her consequently being quashed, a direction was given to the respondent-University to make fresh selection for award of research scholarship in accordance with law.

(2.) It would appear from the averments made in paragraph 8 of the petition, which have not been denied, in the return, that a panel of two candidates was drawn up, where Miss Riju Chopra figured at No. 1 and the petitioner at No. 2. It is also admitted in the return that the petitioner was fully eligible for this scholarship. In the circumstances, the order passed on March 12, 1992, clearly implied that the research scholarship was to be given to the next eligible candidate, who in this case was the petitioner Deepa Sikand. The University has thus to grant the research scholarship to the petitioner and it was, therefore, not open to the University to issue fresh advertisement or to invite fresh applications for this research scholarship. The petition is disposed of in these terms.