Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Petition Against O.P. Jindal Global University

Petitioner Contested University’s alleged Leniency in Handling Plagiarism Case Involving AI-Generated Content and Academic Misconduct

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has dismissed the civil writ petition filed by Kaustubh Anil Shakkarwar against O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), deeming the matter resolved and all other issues academic. The case, presided over by Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri, centered on the university's alleged leniency in addressing concerns raised by the petitioner.

JGU’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Chetan Mittal, argued that the university had already taken extraordinary measures to accommodate the petitioner. Despite detecting significant AI-generated content in his submission, which constituted academic misconduct under UGC regulations, JGU restored the petitioner’s internal assessment marks and allowed his final grade to be recorded without penalties.

Mittal emphasized that the petitioner, a practicing advocate, had not disclosed an October 13, 2024, email from JGU’s Registrar, which outlined these accommodations. The court reviewed the Registrar’s email and the unofficial transcript to verify JGU's compliance. After confirming that the university had addressed the petitioner’s primary concern, the court asked if he wished to proceed. The petitioner’s counsel requested time but later acknowledged that the matter had become moot.

Senior Advocate Mittal remarked, “The decision underscores the importance of academic integrity and the university’s fair handling of the case. It sends a strong message about maintaining ethical standards.” Ajay Bhargava, Partner at Khaitan & Co., noted the court’s recognition of JGU's reasonableness in offering a second chance despite clear grounds for expulsion. The case reaffirms universities’ autonomy in upholding academic honesty.