HC quashes order against law students

The Karnataka High Court quashed an order of the internal complaints committee of the Christ University, banning two students from studies for a period of one year and debarring them from appearing for the semester examination.

The students are pursuing BA LLB course at the Christ University.

The two had approached the high court after they were punished for an alleged prank of sending an offending image to another student on mobile phone.

“Compliance of principles of natural justice is necessary in the fact situation of the case," the court observed.

It added that the enquiry appears to have been conducted in haste and it was pertinent to mention that three members who were not part of the enquiry held on April 6, 2018, were party to the enquiry report dated April 9, 2018. “The impugned orders dated May 8, 2018 & May 16, 2018, therefore, cannot be sustained in the eye of the law,” the order stated.

While quashing the order against the students, the court said that the university shall be at liberty to take action against them after giving them a notice in terms of the regulation and giving them an opportunity to give a written reply as well as produce oral and documentary evidence in accordance with the procedure prescribed under the regulation.