“It is better to suffer injustice than to seek justice in view of such inordinate delays,” said 81-year-old Ajit Singh Singhvi, an ex-IAS officer who was conferred his gold medal by the Rajasthan University after a legal battle which lasted 47 years.
Singhvi’s seemingly endless pursuit began in 1963 when he filed a case against the university for declaring him second topper and against Sawai Singh who bagged the first position.
A resident of Bikaner, the then Rajasthan Administrative Services officer pursued LLB (2 year evening course) at Dungar College, Bikaner. Singhvi argued that the topper is to be declared on the basis of overall percentage of the course instead of final year marks. For five decades, Singhvi not only knocked the doors of the civil, district and the high court numerous times, but also faced 301 hearings and argued for his own case in district and high court after the death of his two advocates .
With moist eyes and a glow on his face, surrounded by his retired IAS friends, the 1979 batch officer told DH: “To me, this gold medal is more a gift for my hard work of winning the legal battle and less for that first position in LLB. This battle took away my peace, but at the same time it was quite challenging as I was a civil servant.”
He blames the injustice on the 35 years of judicial delay and a 12 year delay by the university.
“This was a question of assertion of my right and I am feeling proud of it. I have been a victim of delayed justice and a lax university administration,” Singhvi added. Singhvi received the gold medal and a certificate from the university on June 23
J P Singhal, vice-chancellor of Rajasthan University, said: “It’s an honour to present the gold medal to the real achiever. It is unfortunate that such delays occur.”
Published 26 June 2016, 18:51 IST