The Delhi High Court has instructed Delhi University to respond within three days to a petition filed by the national secretary of the Congress student wing, challenging his expulsion from the university for organizing a screening of a BBC documentary about PM Narendra Modi.
Lokesh Chugh, a doctoral candidate in the Anthropology Department, was debarred from taking any university, college, or departmental exams for one year.
During the hearing, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav criticized the university’s order for lacking mental application and urged the university to demonstrate independent thought in its decision-making.
“There has to be independent application of mind which is not reflected in the order. The order must reflect the reasoning,” the Court opined.
The Delhi High Court heard arguments from both sides regarding Lokesh Chugh’s expulsion from Delhi University for organizing a screening of a BBC documentary about PM Narendra Modi. The university’s counsel, Advocate Mohinder Rupal, expressed interest in presenting the documents that led to the university’s decision.
Chugh’s counsel argued that his Ph.D. thesis submission deadline is April 30, and thus the matter is urgent. Justice Kaurav stated that Chugh’s rights would be protected once he is before the court.
“Mr Mohinder Rupal seeks time to file Counter Affidavit. Let the same be done in three working days. Petitioner is also at liberty to file the rejoinder in two days thereafter. List on Monday,” the Delhi High Court ordered.
It has been reported that a protest was organized on January 27, 2023, on the Delhi University campus during which the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” was screened.
Lokesh Chugh, who has been expelled for organizing the screening, has stated that he was not present at the protest as he was engaged in a media interaction at the time.
The Delhi University issued Lokesh Chugh a show cause notice on February 16, 2023, alleging that he was involved in a disturbance of law and order on campus during the screening of the BBC documentary.
On March 10, he was disqualified from taking any university, college, or departmental exams for one year. Chugh argues that the university violated the principle of natural justice by issuing the order against him without informing him of the charges and findings by the disciplinary authority.
He is demanding the dismissal of the memorandum and the annulment of the notice alleging his involvement in law and order violations. He has also requested the suspension of the memorandum in the interim.
