Gujarat High Court Directs NID To Issue Mark-Sheet To Student Who Was Admitted Against Vacant Reserved Seat Under Interim Orders
The Gujarat High Court has directed the National Institute of Design (NID) to issue mark sheets and related academic documents to a student who completed his course after being granted admission against vacant reserved seats pursuant to a 2021 interim order.
Granting relief, Justice Nirzar S. Desai observed:
“It is an undisputed position that the present applicant has successfully passed out the course wherein he was admitted and the only formality which is left out is to provide mark-sheet and degree certificate… if the respondents are directed to provide the mark-sheet and other relevant documents that the applicant would require for his career advancement, the same is not going to create any prejudice in favour of anyone and hence, respondent No. 1 is directed to provide the mark-sheet and other relevant documents that the applicant may ask within a period of 15 days from today.”
The Court was hearing plea by Anjal Balabhaskaran seeking directions to the National Institute of Design and other authorities to issue his mark sheets, graduation certificate, and related academic documents.
The background of the case dates back to 2021 where the petitioner Anjal Thottan and another student though belonging to the General category, had been granted admission to NID pursuant to interim orders of the High Court against vacant seats reserved under EWS, SC and ST categories. The Court had allowed the applicants to occupy the unfilled reserved seats. The petitioner completed the five-year course successfully during the pendency of this litigation, but the institute withheld his marksheet and related documents due such pendency.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocates Samruddhi Pawar and Digant M. Popat submitted that despite completing the course, the petitioner was unable to pursue professional opportunities because the institution had refused to issue marksheets and related documents. They argued that without academic credentials, the petitioner's qualification would remain meaningless, severely affecting his career prospects.
On the other hand, Advocate Rohan Lavkumar appearing along with advocate Pancham Jhala for the National Institute of Design and Advocate Ankit Shah for the other respondent authorities opposed the application. However, the Court noted that the respondents were unable to justify withholding the marksheet despite the petitioner having successfully completed the course.
The Court took note of the fact that another co-petitioner was still pursuing the course and therefore declined to issue directions for grant of degree certificate at this stage, observing that such relief could trigger similar claims prematurely.
However, the Court found no justification to deny marksheets and related academic documents to a student who had already completed his course.
Case Title: Anjal Balabhaskaran v National Institute Of Design & Ors.
Case Number: In R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 16350 of 2021
Appearance: Advocates Samruddhi Pawar, Digant M Popat for the Petitioner; Advocate Ankit Shah for Respondent No. 2; Advocates Rohan Lavkumar, Pancham Jhala for Respondent No. 1