RAVINDER MANKU Vs. PUNJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MISS. Ravinder Manku petitioner has approached this Court for the issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the Punjab University, Chandigarh, Chairman of its Department of Anthropology, and the Dean of University Instruction, to grant admission to her in the M. Sc. Course of the Anthropology Department, on the basis of her merit in the sports, against the seat reserved for the outstanding sports persons.

(2.) THE petitioner has graduated in Science from the Punjab University in May, 1987, securing about 64 per cent marks. She applied for admission in the M. Sc. two years' course in the Anthropology Department of the Punjab University. Chandigarh, against 5 per cent quota reserved for the outstanding sports persons. Since the total number of seats in M. Sc. Anthropology Department is twenty, only one seat falls in the S per cent quota reserved far the outstanding sports persons. The petitioner having participated in the Haryana State W omen Hockey Championship held at Hissar, representing Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai. claimed the solitary seat reserved for sports persons, on the basis of her outstanding performance in the field of sports. This claim of the petitioner ;s fully supported by the certificates obtained from the Haryana State Women Hockey Association, Principal and Director, Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai and Director,. Sports Department. Haryana. In the Handbook of Information published by the Dean of University Instruction, for the year 1987, under the heading 'teaching Departments. Other Institutions and Chairs'. M. Sc. in Anthropology is included as one of the subjects. Under the heading 'admissions', it has been provided that in making admission, all University Teaching Departments will reserve seats in each classes under :--

(3.) ON 8th August, 1987, the petitioner received a communication from the Punjab University asking her to appear on the sports grounds of the University on 17th Aug. 1987, at 8 a. m. for actual trial and interview, in proper kit with original certificates in sports. Accordingly, the petitioner appeared along with a number of other candidates and was found the only eligible candidate who had applied for admission to the M. Sc. Anthropology, as other participants in the trials were candidates for other teaching departments of the University. According to the petitioner, since no actual trials and interviews were held and the petitioner being the only candidate for, admission to the M. Sc. Anthropology, she approached the Department to deposit her fees. admission dues, etc. But on 22nd Aug. 1987, the petitioner was told that the only seat reserved for the sports persons had been diverted to the general side oh the ground that no suitable sports candidate was available.