Exam For Law Students Celebrating Bakrid Will Be Held After July 4: DU Tells Delhi High Court
Malavika Prasad
26 May 2026 4:47 PM IST
Delhi University told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (May 26) that examination for those students of Faculty of Law, who are celebrating Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) on May 28, shall be rescheduled to after July 4.
The submission was made by the varsity's counsel before Justice Jasmeet Singh in a student's plea challenging the varsity's decision to hold the exam on May 28, the date on which Centre has declared a holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).
Noting the submissions the court in its order said, "Counsel for Delhi University submits that those students belonging to minority community and/or students who wish to participate in festivities of Eid-ul-Zuha on May 28, may inform the Dean Faculty of Law by tomorrow (Wednesday) and the exam supposed to be held on May 28 will be held after July 4".
The court directed that the concerned students will inform the Dean, Faculty of Law through email and the rescheduled exam date will be emailed to petitioners on their email id at least one week before the exam. The court thus disposed of the matter.
The plea, moved by a student of DU's law faculty, claims that the same amounts to violation of Muslim students' fundamental rights under Article 14, 21 and 25 of Constitution of India. Notably, the Supreme Court had last week shifted the holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha to May 28.
The plea seeks a direction for quashing the decision of DU wherein it has directed holding of the exam on May 28. It seeks a direction to DU to postpone or reschedule the examination on the subject “Public Policy and Administration” for VI Semester Integrated Law Course students. It further seeks a stay on the conduct of the exam on May 28.
The petitioner is a first year student of Integrated Law Course (VI Semester) at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, against an office memorandum dated 25.05.2026 of the Respondent University in continuing with the examination scheduled on 28.05.2026, despite the Government of India officially shifting the holiday of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) from 27.05.2026 to 28.05.2026.
The plea states that several constitutional institutions and public authorities, including the Supreme Court of India, have already shifted the Bakrid holiday to 28.05.2026 in conformity with the declaration made by the Government of India.
However, despite officially declaring the holiday on 28.05.2026, the Respondent University has arbitrarily decidedto continue examinations on the said date.
The impugned action is manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of Articles 14, 21, 25 and 29 of the Constitution of India, as the Petitioner and similarly situated students are effectively deprived of their right to peacefully observe and celebrate an important religious festival.
The plea claims that the action of the varsity places students in an impossible situation whereby they must either appear in the examination and sacrifice their religious observance and family participation during Eid-ul-Zuha; or celebrate the religious festival and suffer academic prejudice.
The plea claims that the office memorandum lacks any reasonable nexus and is contrary to constitutional morality, secularism, fairness and equal treatment expected from a public educational institution.
The plea claims that DU's office memorandum dated 25.05.2026 is wholly contrary to the conduct adopted by other constitutional authorities, public institutions and national examination bodies across the country, all of whom have reasonably accommodated students and stakeholders in view of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).
Case title: SAIF RASHID SAEED V/s UNION OF INDIA AND ORS
W.P.(C)-7770/2026
