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The Allahabad High Court has overturned canceling a Ph.D. student’s admission at Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University. The court’s decision underscores the vital role of academic research in India’s progress and asserts that procedural issues should not obstruct students from completing their studies.
The case involved Mithilesh Kumar Chaudhary, a law graduate who was enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Sociology at the university. Despite facing challenges with his research supervisor and the university’s demands for an affidavit, Chaudhary pursued his course for five years. In October 2022, the university canceled his admission, citing non-compliance with procedural requirements.
Justice Alok Mathur’s verdict stressed that the country’s development hinges on robust research efforts. Drawing from the Supreme Court’s ruling in Rajendra Prasad Mathur v. Karnataka University, the judge highlighted that the responsibility for any admission errors lies with the institution, not the student. The court noted that penalizing Chaudhary for procedural flaws was unjust, especially as he was on the verge of completing his Ph.D.
The Allahabad High Court’s decision mandates the university to reconsider Chaudhary’s application for an extension and to facilitate his completion of the research. This ruling reinforces the principle that students who have made substantial academic progress should not face punitive measures due to administrative oversights, thereby supporting the country’s broader goals of academic and research advancement.