ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court has held that a student’s right to appear in an examination is intrinsically linked to the fundamental right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution, observing that a student’s academic future cannot be jeopardised due to administrative or technical lapses of educational authorities.
Justice Vivek Saran made the observation while granting relief to Shreya Pandey, a BSc (Biology) student of Urmila Devi PG College, Prayagraj, who was barred from appearing in her first semester examination owing to failures at the university level. In its order dated January 12, the Court noted that when a student is not at fault, she cannot be made to suffer for procedural deficiencies.
“Appearing in an examination is akin to the right to live with human dignity enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. When the petitioner is not at fault, her future should not be jeopardised merely on account of technical lapses,” the Court observed.
The petitioner had enrolled in the BSc (Biology) programme, but the University failed to issue her an admit card for the first semester examinations. It later emerged that although her details were available on the University’s online portal, the entry remained in “draft form” and was never formally updated. As a result, the system did not generate an admit card.
The college informed the Court that nearly 30 students faced similar problems due to technical issues in the University’s online portal. While records for 25 students were eventually updated, the University allegedly failed to update the records of the petitioner and four others despite being informed.
The High Court intervened to protect the petitioner’s academic interests and ordered the conduct of a special examination. The University is directed to hold this special examination for the BSc (Biology) First Semester course for the academic session 2025-26 within two weeks and publish the result within a reasonable time.
The Court further directed the University to file a counter-affidavit explaining the procedure followed when technical issues relating to portal updation are reported, so that similar situations do not recur in the future. The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 10.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 10. Advocate Suraj Pandey appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while Advocates Pratik Chandra and Vikas Mishra represented the respondents, including the Uttar Pradesh government, the college and the affiliated university.
