BBC Documentary Row: Debarred NSUI leader requests Delhi HC to allow him to submit thesis

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the PhD scholar and NSUI national secretary Lokesh Chugh, apprehended that the varsity will later "appoint a supervisor of its own choice" if interim relief was not granted, counsel for the varsity M Rupal stated no prejudice would be caused and an interference by court will send a "wrong message".

BBC Documentary Row: Debarred NSUI leader requests Delhi HC to allow him to submit thesis

An NSUI leader who was earlier debarred by the Delhi University over his alleged participation in the screening of BBC Documentary on 2022 Gujarat Riots has now requested the Delhi High Court to allow him to submit his PhD thesis before his supervisor retires on April 30. 

While senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the PhD scholar and NSUI national secretary Lokesh Chugh, apprehended that the varsity will later "appoint a supervisor of its own choice" if interim relief was not granted, counsel for the varsity M Rupal stated no prejudice would be caused and an interference by court will send a "wrong message". Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav was informed that the petitioner has completed all formalities and was bound to appear for viva, and that the university should assure that post the retirement of the present supervisor, one of the "advisors" who had worked with the petitioner on the thesis would replace him. Attorney General R Venkataramani, also representing the university, urged the court to defer hearing in the matter as he was appearing in a constitution bench hearing before the Supreme Court.

Rupal said the petitioner's thesis and the role of his supervisor was over and that if he succeeds in his case here, it would be processed as per procedure and there was no urgency in the matter. "A wrong message will go. They are alleging urgency without showing the rules. There is no impediment," he contended. "Even if the supervisor retires, it will not come in the way. The department continues," added the lawyer.

After being informed that the petitioner's thesis was "returned" by the authorities post submission on account of the debarment order, Justice Kaurav directed that the matter be listed for further consideration on April 27, 2023.

The judge observed that no prejudice should be caused to the petitioner when the matter is pending before the court. The petitioner had approached the high court earlier this month challenging the university's decision to debar him for one year for his alleged involvement in the screening of the documentary - India: The Modi Question - related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The documentary was screened earlier this year.

The Delhi University (DU) registrar had issued Chugh a memorandum in March under which he was not allowed to take part in “any university or college or departmental examination for one year”. 

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