The IIT-Ropar PhD seat dispute has ended in favour of a research scholar after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar to restore his admission. The court ruled that the scholar’s resignation was not voluntary and could not be treated as a valid withdrawal from the doctoral programme.
High Court Declares Resignation Invalid
The High Court observed that the scholar did not resign out of free will. Instead, the court found that the resignation was submitted under circumstances that raised serious concerns about its voluntary nature.
As a result, the court set aside the resignation and directed IIT-Ropar to reinstate the scholar to the PhD programme.
Scholar Challenged IIT-Ropar’s Decision
The petitioner approached the High Court after losing his PhD seat. He argued that he had faced pressure while submitting the resignation and sought restoration of his admission.
Meanwhile, the institute defended its decision by stating that it had acted based on the resignation submitted by the scholar. However, the court found sufficient grounds to interfere with the institute’s decision.
Court Emphasises Fairness in Academic Decisions
The High Court stressed that educational institutions must ensure fairness and transparency while dealing with students. The bench observed that resignations affecting a student’s academic future should be examined carefully before being accepted.
Furthermore, the court said such decisions must reflect the free and informed choice of the student.
IIT-Ropar Directed to Restore Admission
Following the judgment, IIT-Ropar has been directed to restore the scholar’s PhD admission and allow him to continue his research programme in accordance with the court’s order.
The ruling is expected to serve as an important reminder for educational institutions to follow due process while handling student resignations.
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