High Court bewildered with Korean national's petition

A division bench of Justices P V Hardas and N D Deshpande were hearing the petition filed by Kim Ikbung, who failed to appear for the annual examinations on two occasions following which he was removed from the course.

Ikbung had in 2007 taken admission for Bachelors in Arts course with Nowrosjee Wadia college in Pune. He however did not appear for the annual exams that year. He was given a chance to appear the next year but again he did not.

Meanwhile, Ikbung's visa expired on March 28, 2008 and the Foreign Registration Office refused to give him an extension. The college in its letter to the FRO also stated that Ikbung was very poor in his academic performance and had failed to pass even the first year of the course.

Failing to comprehend the Korean national's averment; Justice Hardas suggested that the court would appoint a lawyer at the State's expense to argue for him. Ikbung, however, refused and insisted on arguing himself.

"But we are not able to understand you and you are not able to comprehend what we are saying," Justice Hardas remarked.

"The college and university did not give me the examination forms despite me asking. This is discrimination," Ikbung told the court.

Girish Kulkarni, appearing for the Pune University, told the court that the FRO had in September 2010 issued a Leave India notice to Ikbung. The matter has been reserved for orders till March 15.