{"id":70706,"date":"2008-11-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-11-03T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/director-studies-ors-vs-vaibhav-singh-chauhan-on-4-november-2008"},"modified":"2018-08-02T04:39:08","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T23:09:08","slug":"director-studies-ors-vs-vaibhav-singh-chauhan-on-4-november-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/director-studies-ors-vs-vaibhav-singh-chauhan-on-4-november-2008","title":{"rendered":"Director (Studies) &amp; Ors vs Vaibhav Singh Chauhan on 4 November, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Director (Studies) &amp; Ors vs Vaibhav Singh Chauhan on 4 November, 2008<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_author\">Author: M Katju<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: Altamas Kabir, Markandey Katju<\/div>\n<pre>                                                                                     1\n\n\n                                                               Reportable\n              IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA\n\n                 CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION\n\n                  CIVIL APPEAL NO. 34 OF 2008\n\n\nDirector (Studies) &amp; ors.                          ..     Appellant (s)\n\n      -versus-\n\nVaibhav Singh Chauhan                              ..     Respondent\n\n\n\n\n                            JUDGMENT\n<\/pre>\n<p>Markandey Katju, J.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>1.    This appeal by special leave has been filed against the impugned<\/p>\n<p>judgment &amp; final order dated 24.5.2007 of the Division Bench of the Delhi<\/p>\n<p>High Court in Letter Patent Appeal No. 22 of 2007. The learned Division<\/p>\n<p>Bench of the High Court dismissed the LPA by the following order:<\/p>\n<p>      &#8220;Heard. For the reasons that will follow separately, this appeal<br \/>\n      fails and is hereby dismissed with costs assessed at Rs. 5,000\/-&#8221;<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          2<\/span><\/p>\n<p>2.    Subsequently, the reasons were given by the learned Division Bench<\/p>\n<p>which have been annexed to the counter affidavit filed in this appeal.<\/p>\n<p>3.    Heard Ms. Kamini Jaiswal, learned counsel for the appellant and Shri<\/p>\n<p>Lalit Bhasin, learned counsel for the respondent.<\/p>\n<p>4.    The fact-s of the case are that respondent Vaibhav Singh Chauhan<\/p>\n<p>(hereinafter referred to as the respondent) was admitted to Dr. Ambedekar<\/p>\n<p>Institute of Hotel Management, Nutrition &amp; Catering Technology,<\/p>\n<p>Chandigarh in the academic session 2002-03 to undergo a degree course in<\/p>\n<p>Hospitality and Hotel Administration. He cleared all the subjects in the first<\/p>\n<p>and second year. Thereafter he appeared in the third and final year of the<\/p>\n<p>examination for the academic year 2004-05. On 19.4.2005 while he was<\/p>\n<p>writing his answer script in the subject of `Front Office Management&#8217; a slip<\/p>\n<p>was found in his possession which contained material relevant to the<\/p>\n<p>examination. The invigilation staff took the slip into their possession and a<\/p>\n<p>fresh answer sheet was issued to the respondent.<\/p>\n<p>5.    A malpractice case based on the seizure of the slip was initiated<\/p>\n<p>against the respondent by the Examination Committee of the appellant<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          3<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Institute. In his statement dated 19.4.2005 before the inquiry the respondent<\/p>\n<p>admitted that the slip which was seized from his possession was in his own<\/p>\n<p>handwriting. Thus, he confessed the charge against him. However, he<\/p>\n<p>pleaded that he was extremely sorry for the misdeed and would not repeat it<\/p>\n<p>again.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>6.       By its order dated 7.7.2005 the Institute disqualified the respondent<\/p>\n<p>for one academic session as per Rule 9.2 of the Examination Rule of the<\/p>\n<p>Institute.    The respondent was permitted to take readmission for the<\/p>\n<p>academic session 2006-07 in the same class and he had to appear in the<\/p>\n<p>annual examination in 2007.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>7.       At this stage it may be relevant to quote some of the relevant rules,<\/p>\n<p>being the Examination Rules of the National Council for Hotel management<\/p>\n<p>and Catering Technology, New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as the<\/p>\n<p>`Examination Rules&#8217;).\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>8.       Rule 8.1 of the said Rules defines `malpractice&#8217; in an examination.<\/p>\n<p>Sub-rule (1) of the said Rule 8.1 defines the following as one of the<\/p>\n<p>malpractices in the examination:\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                           4<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>             &#8220;Candidate who is found in possession of any notebook\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>             (s) or notes or chits or any other unauthorized material<br \/>\n             concerning the subject pertaining to the examination<br \/>\n             paper.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The respondent in our opinion is clearly guilty of malpractice as defined in<\/p>\n<p>sub-rule (1) of Rule 8.1 of the Examination Rules.<\/p>\n<p>9.    In this connection learned counsel for the respondent submitted that<\/p>\n<p>there was no evidence to show that the respondent had actually used the said<\/p>\n<p>slip of paper found in his possession.       In our opinion, this is wholly<\/p>\n<p>irrelevant. All that is relevant is whether the slip of paper found in the<\/p>\n<p>possession of the examinee pertained to the examination paper in question.<\/p>\n<p>If it does, then it is a malpractice. In this particular case, the said slip of<\/p>\n<p>paper was brought into the examination hall and was found to be in the<\/p>\n<p>possession of the examinee while the examination was going on. Whether<\/p>\n<p>the respondent actually used that slip or not is irrelevant. This view finds<\/p>\n<p>support from the decision of this Court in C.B.S.E. vs. Vineeta Mahajan<\/p>\n<p>&amp; another (1994) 1 SCC 6. Moreover, this is also borne out by sub rule (1)<\/p>\n<p>of the Examination Rules, quoted above.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          5<\/span><\/p>\n<p>10.   In the present case there is no doubt that the slip of paper contained<\/p>\n<p>material pertaining to the examination in question. Hence, we cannot accept<\/p>\n<p>the submission of Shri Lalit Bhasin that the respondent was not guilty of<\/p>\n<p>malpractice since he was not found to have used that piece of paper.<\/p>\n<p>11.   Rule 9.2 of the Examination Rules states as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>      &#8220;A candidate found exchanging answer book or question paper<br \/>\n      with solution or copying or having in his\/her possession or<br \/>\n      accessible to him\/her papers, books, notes or material relating<br \/>\n      to the subject of the question paper shall be disqualified for a<br \/>\n      minimum period of one academic session following the<br \/>\n      examination in question and is liable to be disqualified for a<br \/>\n      maximum period of three years following the examination in<br \/>\n      which he\/she (deliberately) adopted unfair means. The<br \/>\n      candidate found to have thus indulged in unfair means shall be<br \/>\n      deemed to have failed in all subjects. After expiry of the period<br \/>\n      of disqualification such candidate shall have to reappear in the<br \/>\n      entire examination.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>                                             (emphasis supplied)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>12.   It appears that in pursuance of Rule 9.2 the respondent has been given<\/p>\n<p>the minimum punishment, since he has been disqualified for one academic<\/p>\n<p>session allowing him to take re-admission for the session 2006-07. Hence,<\/p>\n<p>we find no illegality in the order dated 7.7.2005, which is annexed as<\/p>\n<p>Annexure P-3 to this appeal.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          6<\/span><\/p>\n<p>13.    The respondent filed a writ petition before the learned Single Judge<\/p>\n<p>of the Delhi High Court in which an interim order was passed by the learned<\/p>\n<p>Single Judge dated 31.3.2006, a copy of which is annexed as Annexure P-5<\/p>\n<p>to this appeal.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>14.    Since that interim order has relevance in this appeal we are quoting it<\/p>\n<p>in its entirety as under :\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>       &#8220;ORDER<br \/>\n       31.03.2006<\/p>\n<p>       CM. No. 3725\/2006<\/p>\n<p>                     The charge against the petitioner is that he was<br \/>\n              found in possession of a chit\/slip of paper on which<br \/>\n              some notings had been made. The records that are<br \/>\n              available at the present moment do not bear out whether<br \/>\n              this chit had actually been used in the examination. The<br \/>\n              petitioner immediately admitted to the possession of the<br \/>\n              slip and stated that it would not happen again. His<br \/>\n              contrition is, therefore, spontaneous.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>                     The respondent has imposed on the petitioner the<br \/>\n              punishment under Rule 9.2 of Examination Rules, 2001<br \/>\n              of National Council for Hotel Management Catering<br \/>\n              Technology for one Academic Session following the<br \/>\n              Examination in question. That provision also enables the<br \/>\n              imposition of a disqualification which may extend upto<br \/>\n              three years. Rule 10.6 preserves to the authorities the<br \/>\n              relaxation of even the minimum period of punishment,<br \/>\n              viz., one year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                7<\/span><\/p>\n<p>       In the writ petition a challenge has been laid to the<br \/>\nlegality of the Rules and Regulations. Leaned counsel for<br \/>\nthe respondent states that these Rules are applicable to<br \/>\n24 institutes that are run by the respondents.\n<\/p>\n<p>       Before any punishment is inflicted on a person,<br \/>\neven in circumstances where he admits to the possession<br \/>\nof a slip of paper containing information that is relevant<br \/>\nto or pertains to the examination, the authority should<br \/>\ncarefully exercise its mind as to whether circumstances<br \/>\ncall for a particular punishment. It has been contended by<br \/>\nlearned counsel for the petitioner that where students are<br \/>\ninvolved, the commission of a fault should be viewed<br \/>\nwith some flexibility.\n<\/p>\n<p>       However, if too much laxity is shown by the<br \/>\nauthorities, especially in the case of cheating or using of<br \/>\nunfair means in the examination, it would inexorably<br \/>\nlead to a decline in academic standards. Learned counsel<br \/>\nfor the respondents also states that in academic matters<br \/>\nthe Court should not exercise any discretion.\n<\/p>\n<p>       So far as the last submission is concerned there is<br \/>\na difference in jural interference in academic standards<br \/>\nand Judicial Review of the punishment, the Order should<br \/>\nbe a reasoned one. In the case in hand, all that is stated is<br \/>\nthat the petitioner is &#8220;disqualified for academic session<br \/>\nas per Rule 9.2 of the Examination Rules of the National<br \/>\nCouncil.&#8221; The petitioner was informed that he would<br \/>\nhave to take readmission in the same class and will have<br \/>\nto appear in the annual examination in 2007. Learned<br \/>\ncounsel for the respondents admits that while<br \/>\nrepresentations had been received from the petitioner he<br \/>\nis not in a position to state whether they were disposed of<br \/>\nor not.\n<\/p>\n<p>       The Court often encounters confessions or<br \/>\napologies that are calculated to get out of a delicate<br \/>\nposition.     In      the      present     case      a<br \/>\nconfession\/admission\/apology has been spontaneous.<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                               8<\/span><\/p>\n<p>One full academic as well as professional year has been<br \/>\nlost. It is not a case where by furnishing a confession the<br \/>\npetitioner claims complete exoneration. When the<br \/>\nrespondents&#8217; Rules themselves contain the power to<br \/>\nrelax the imposition of a minimum period of punishment,<br \/>\nthis course ought to have been transversed and<br \/>\nconsidered by the respondents. If it had been so done,<br \/>\nand plausible reasons had been given in the impugned<br \/>\ndecision, for declining to impose a punishment of two<br \/>\nyears [as it actually works out to be], this Court may<br \/>\nhave been loathe to interfere in the matter. Even on such<br \/>\na serious matter, the respondents have not shown due<br \/>\nconcern and have not reduced to writing the reasons why<br \/>\na two year ban has been imposed. It is true that the Rules<br \/>\nexplain that a punishment of one year discretion<br \/>\nemployed by academic authorities. In the first case, the<br \/>\nCourt would not normally be equipped with necessary<br \/>\nwherewithal to rule on academic criteria and therefore<br \/>\nshould be loathe to exercise writ powers. So far as<br \/>\njudicial review of the decision taken by academic<br \/>\nauthorities is concerned if the Court can interfere in<br \/>\nGovernment\/administrative decisions, there is no reason<br \/>\nwhy it cannot do so in the context of academic decisions<br \/>\nalso. The decision to impose a penalty, in any case, be<br \/>\ndescribed as an academic session. In both cases what is<br \/>\nexpected of the Court is to consider whether there was<br \/>\nany arbitrariness in the action, or whether rules of natural<br \/>\njustice have been violated or ignored as the case may be,<br \/>\nor the decision is unreasonable in the Wednesbury sense.<br \/>\nIt is within these parameters that the present case has to<br \/>\nbe considered.\n<\/p>\n<p>       It cannot possibly be contradicted that the<br \/>\nimpugned order is of far-reaching consequences. In all<br \/>\nsuch cases it is essential for the authority concerned to<br \/>\ngive a complete and meaningful opportunity to the<br \/>\ndelinquent to be heard. It has already been noted that the<br \/>\npetitioner had confessed to possession of the chit almost<br \/>\nspontaneously. It is totally left to speculation as to<br \/>\nwhether he was using the slip in the course of the<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                              9<\/span><\/p>\n<p>examination. A student placed in such a predicament<br \/>\nwould, with alacrity, submit his confession depending on<br \/>\nwhat assurances had been held out to him by the<br \/>\nauthorities. However, where discretion is available to the<br \/>\nauthorities, to waive any punishment or impose light or<br \/>\nheavy would be forfeiture of the examination in which<br \/>\nthe petitioner had appeared as well as the next following<br \/>\nyear. However, the Rules also, as has been seen above,<br \/>\nrepose discretion on the authority for reduction.<\/p>\n<p>       An interim prayer has been made for permitting<br \/>\nthe petitioner to appear in the examination `Front Office<br \/>\nExamination&#8217; in the course of which he was found in<br \/>\npossession of some objectionable material. At this stage<br \/>\nof the proceedings I am of the view that the respondents<br \/>\nhave not applied the Rules in their letter and spirit and<br \/>\nhave      not    kept    in     mind      the    immediate<br \/>\nacknowledgment\/admission of the guilt being in<br \/>\npossession of objectionable material. It is certainly<br \/>\narguable that possession of objectionable material, per<br \/>\nse, without a finding that that material was intended to be<br \/>\nused in the examination, would not be punishable. If we<br \/>\ncare to think back to our student days, one would<br \/>\ninvariably recollect preparation of such kind of slips for<br \/>\nrefreshing the mind immediately before an examination,<br \/>\nwith no further intent to use it as unfair or illegitimate<br \/>\nmanner. These aspects of the case have been ignored.<\/p>\n<p>       In these circumstances the respondents are<br \/>\ndirected to permit the petitioner to appear in the<br \/>\nforthcoming `Front Office Examination&#8217;. The appearance<br \/>\nof the petitioner in this examination will not create any<br \/>\nequities in his favour. The results shall be kept in a<br \/>\nsealed cover and shall be only declared on orders of the<br \/>\nCourt. Leniency in matters, such as these, was shown by<br \/>\nthe Hon&#8217;ble Supreme Court in <a href=\"\/doc\/1286920\/\">Swatantar Dixit vs.<br \/>\nGovind Ram,<\/a> (2001) 10 SCC 761 by reducing the<br \/>\npunishment to 2-1\/2 months, which was the period of<br \/>\nsuspension already undergone.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                        10<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                  List this application for further consideration on<br \/>\n            1.5.2005.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n            WP) NO.4505\/2006<\/p>\n<p>                  Counter Affidavit be filed within two weeks.\n<\/p>\n<p>            Rejoinder be filed within two weeks thereafter.<\/p>\n<p>            Renotify on 1.5.2006.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>15.   Before commenting on this interim order we would like to say that<\/p>\n<p>this Court has repeatedly disapproved of passing of such interim orders in<\/p>\n<p>educational matters vide <a href=\"\/doc\/1753047\/\">Regional Officer, C.B.S.E. vs. Sheena<\/p>\n<p>Peethambaran &amp; others<\/a> (2003) 7 SCC 719 (para 6), C.B.S.E. &amp; another<\/p>\n<p>vs. P. Sunil Kumar &amp; others (1998) 5 SCC 377, <a href=\"\/doc\/484120\/\">Guru Nanak Dev<\/p>\n<p>University vs. Parminder Kumar Bansal &amp; others<\/a> (1993) 4 SCC 401 etc.<\/p>\n<p>16.   As noted in the above judgments of this Court, such interim orders<\/p>\n<p>amount to misplaced sympathy which are wholly uncalled for and often<\/p>\n<p>results in creating confusion and is destruction of academic discipline and<\/p>\n<p>academic standards.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>17.   Coming to the interim order of the learned Single Judge dated<\/p>\n<p>31.3.2006, it may be noted that in the very second sentence of the order the<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          11<\/span><\/p>\n<p>learned Single Judge stated that the record did not bear out whether the chit<\/p>\n<p>had actually been used in the examination. As already noted above, this<\/p>\n<p>was a wholly irrelevant consideration. Once it is found that the chit\/piece of<\/p>\n<p>paper contains material pertaining to the examination in question it amounts<\/p>\n<p>to malpractice, whether the same was used by the examinee or not.<\/p>\n<p>18.   The learned Single Judge in the interim order has then emphasized on<\/p>\n<p>the fact that the respondent had apologized and had confessed to the<\/p>\n<p>possession of the chit. In our opinion this again is a misplaced sympathy.<\/p>\n<p>We are of the firm opinion that in academic matters there should be strict<\/p>\n<p>discipline and malpractices should be severely punished. If our country is<\/p>\n<p>to progress we must maintain high educational standards, and this is only<\/p>\n<p>possible if malpractices in examinations in educational institutions are<\/p>\n<p>curbed with an iron hand.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>19.   The learned Single Judge in the interim order then states -&#8220;if we care<\/p>\n<p>to think back to our student days, one would invariably recollect preparation<\/p>\n<p>of such kind of slips for refreshing the mind immediately before an<\/p>\n<p>examination, with no further intent to use it as an unfair or illegitimate<\/p>\n<p>manner&#8221;.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          12<\/span><\/p>\n<p>20.   Here again, we respectfully cannot approve of the above observation<\/p>\n<p>of the learned Single Judge. A judge is supposed to keep his personal view<\/p>\n<p>in the background and not inject them in the judgments. What was done in<\/p>\n<p>his student days was surely irrelevant for deciding the case or even passing<\/p>\n<p>an interim order. It is true that seeing a slip of paper before commencement<\/p>\n<p>of the examination is not a malpractice, but in the present case we are<\/p>\n<p>concerned with its use during the examination and not before the<\/p>\n<p>examination. Hence we fail to see how the above observation of the learned<\/p>\n<p>Single Judge could be justified.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>21.   The learned Single Judge has then directed the Institution to allow the<\/p>\n<p>respondent to reappear in the forthcoming `Front Office Examination&#8217;. In<\/p>\n<p>our opinion, this again was wholly illegal. As noted in Rule 9.2 (quoted<\/p>\n<p>above), even if a candidate has used unfair means only in one paper, he will<\/p>\n<p>be deemed to have failed in all the papers.        In the present case, the<\/p>\n<p>respondent no doubt was found with a slip of paper in the `Front Office<\/p>\n<p>Examination&#8217; which was only one of the papers. However, in view of Rule<\/p>\n<p>9.2 he will have to reappear in the entire examination i.e. in all the papers,<\/p>\n<p>and not merely in the Front Office Examination.<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                         13<\/span><\/p>\n<p>22.   In view of the above, we are of the opinion that the learned Single<\/p>\n<p>Judge was wholly unjustified in passing the aforesaid interim order dated<\/p>\n<p>31.3.2006.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>23.   Thereafter in the final judgment dated 30.10.2006, the learned Single<\/p>\n<p>Judge directed the result of the respondent to be declared forthwith for the<\/p>\n<p>subject `Front Office&#8217; for which the respondent appeared in April 2006<\/p>\n<p>pursuant to the interim order dated 31.3.2006, and also to declare the result<\/p>\n<p>of the respondent in other subjects in which he appeared in 2005.        The<\/p>\n<p>learned Single Judge was of the view that the punishment imposed was<\/p>\n<p>disproportionate to the offence, particularly since the respondent had shown<\/p>\n<p>remorse and sought forgiveness.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>24.   We are afraid we cannot agree with the view taken by the learned<\/p>\n<p>Single Judge.    As already stated above, we have to be very strict in<\/p>\n<p>maintaining high academic standards and maintaining academic discipline<\/p>\n<p>and academic rigour if our country is to progress. Sympathy for students<\/p>\n<p>using unfair means is wholly out of place.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                          14<\/span><\/p>\n<p>25.   Moreover, the respondent\/examinee has been given the minimum<\/p>\n<p>punishment under the rules and no lesser punishment could have been<\/p>\n<p>imposed, except in exceptional circumstances. It is true that when a person<\/p>\n<p>confesses his guilt it is often treated as a mitigating circumstance and calls<\/p>\n<p>for lesser punishment if that is permissible. However, this is not an absolute<\/p>\n<p>rule and will not apply in all kinds of cases. In particular, as stated above,<\/p>\n<p>in academic matters there should be no leniency at all if our country is to<\/p>\n<p>progress. Apart from that, the respondent had been given the minimum<\/p>\n<p>punishment under Rule 9.2 and we fail to understand how a lesser<\/p>\n<p>punishment could have given to him, except by exercising discretion in a<\/p>\n<p>particular case. This is not that kind of exceptional case, and no sympathy<\/p>\n<p>was called for.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>25.   The learned Single Judge in his judgment dated 30.10.2006 has<\/p>\n<p>directed that the writ petitioner&#8217;s result in the subject `Front Office&#8217; in<\/p>\n<p>which he appeared in April 2006 and other papers in which he appeared in<\/p>\n<p>2005 be declared forthwith. In our opinion, this was an illegal direction,<\/p>\n<p>because as stated in Rule 9.1, once a candidate has been found using unfair<\/p>\n<p>means even in one subject\/paper, he will be deemed to have failed in all the<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                        15<\/span><\/p>\n<p>subjects\/papers and he has to rewrite the entire examination, and not merely<\/p>\n<p>for the single paper in which he is found to have used unfair means.<\/p>\n<p>26.   An appeal was filed before the learned Division Bench of the Delhi<\/p>\n<p>High Court which has been dismissed by the impugned judgment which we<\/p>\n<p>have carefully perused. We regret our inability to agree with the Division<\/p>\n<p>Bench.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>27.   The learned Division Bench has repeated the view of the learned<\/p>\n<p>Single Judge that the punishment given was disproportionate to the offence<\/p>\n<p>committed. We entirely disagree with that view. As already stated above,<\/p>\n<p>the minimum punishment was imposed on the respondent and we fail to<\/p>\n<p>understand what other punishment could have been given to him even when<\/p>\n<p>he has confessed his guilt.    In our opinion, this was not a fit case for<\/p>\n<p>exercising discretion by waiving or reducing the minimum punishment.<\/p>\n<p>28.   Moreover, the learned Division Bench seems to have made the same<\/p>\n<p>mistake made by the learned Single Judge in directing that the respondent&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>result of the subject `Front Office&#8217; examination held in 2006 along with the<\/p>\n<p>result in other papers written by him in 2005 be declared forthwith. As<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                           16<\/span><\/p>\n<p>already stated above, this direction is against Rule 9.2 of the Examination<\/p>\n<p>Rules.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>29.      Shri Bhasin, learned counsel for the respondent then submitted that<\/p>\n<p>the examination rules were invalid. We have carefully perused the rules and<\/p>\n<p>find no invalidity in the same. There is no violation of Article 14 or any<\/p>\n<p>other provision of the Constitution or any other statute.<\/p>\n<p>30.      In view of the above, we are of the opinion that both the judgments of<\/p>\n<p>the learned Single Judge as well as the learned Division Bench cannot be<\/p>\n<p>sustained and have to be set aside. We order accordingly. Resultantly, the<\/p>\n<p>appeal stands allowed. The impugned judgment of the learned Division<\/p>\n<p>Bench as well as the Single Judge are set aside and the writ petition is<\/p>\n<p>dismissed.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>31.      There shall be no order as to costs.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>32.      Before parting with this case, we would like to refer to the decisions<\/p>\n<p>of this Court which has repeatedly held that the High Court should not<\/p>\n<p>ordinarily interfere with the orders passed in educational matters by<\/p>\n<p>domestic tribunals set up by educational institutions vide Board of High<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                17<\/span><\/p>\n<p>School &amp; Intermediate Education, U.P. Allahabad &amp; another vs.<\/p>\n<p>Bagleshwar Prasad &amp; another AIR 1966 SC 875 (vide para 12), <a href=\"\/doc\/173865\/\">Dr. J.P.<\/p>\n<p>Kulshrestha &amp; others vs. Chancellor, Allahabad University &amp; others<\/p>\n<p>AIR<\/a> 1980 SC 2141 (vide para 17), Rajendra Prasad Mathur vs.<\/p>\n<p>Karnataka University &amp; another AIR 1986 SC 1448 (vide para 7). We<\/p>\n<p>wish to reiterate the view taken in the above decisions, and further state that<\/p>\n<p>the High Courts should not ordinarily interfere with the functioning and<\/p>\n<p>order of the educational authorities unless there is clear violation of some<\/p>\n<p>statutory rule or legal principle. Also, there must be strict purity in the<\/p>\n<p>examinations of educational institutions and no sympathy or leniency<\/p>\n<p>should be shown to candidates who resort to unfair means in the<\/p>\n<p>examinations.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              (Altamas Kabir)<\/p>\n<p>                                              &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              (Markandey Katju)<br \/>\nNew Delhi;\n<\/p>\n<p>04 November, 2008<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India Director (Studies) &amp; Ors vs Vaibhav Singh Chauhan on 4 November, 2008 Author: M Katju Bench: Altamas Kabir, Markandey Katju 1 Reportable IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 34 OF 2008 Director (Studies) &amp; ors. .. Appellant (s) -versus- Vaibhav Singh Chauhan .. Respondent JUDGMENT [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Director (Studies) &amp; Ors vs Vaibhav Singh Chauhan on 4 November, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/director-studies-ors-vs-vaibhav-singh-chauhan-on-4-november-2008\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Director (Studies) &amp; 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