The Allahabad High Court has directed an independent re-evaluation of answer sheets and a separate inquiry into allegations of caste-based humiliation and discrimination raised by two students of Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj.
Background
Petitioner No. 1 is a Ph.D. research scholar, while Petitioner No. 2 is a fifth-semester B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) student and resides in the University's boys' hostel.
The petitioners alleged that academic and administrative authority was being used for caste-based humiliation and retaliation. Petitioner No. 2 had submitted a complaint to the Vice-Chancellor on August 20, 2026, raising concerns regarding evaluation of answer scripts and alleged caste-related remarks.
The complaint also sought independent review or re-evaluation of the answer sheets. The petitioners claimed that repeated reminders and complaints had not received an effective response from the University.
Justice Vinod Diwakar made it clear that it was not deciding whether the allegations were true.
"The allegations are serious, and for that very reason they require to be examined by an impartial agency after affording a full opportunity of hearing to the person against whom they are made."
The Court specifically stated that nothing in its order should be treated as an opinion on the correctness of the allegations.
The Court directed the Vice-Chancellor to constitute an independent committee to re-evaluate the answer sheets of Petitioner No. 2 in subjects taught and evaluated by Respondent No. 6, as well as any other subjects indicated by the student.
The original evaluator cannot be part of the committee. The answer sheets are also to be presented after masking the identities of both the student and original evaluator, without disclosing the marks previously awarded. The committee must submit its report within one week.
The Court also requested Smt. Archana Singh-I, Judge, Small Cause Court, District Court, Prayagraj, and Shri Arun Kumar Yadava, Special Chief Judicial Magistrate, Prayagraj, to conduct an inquiry.
The inquiry will examine whether Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe students were subjected to caste-based humiliation or discrimination and whether complaints were dealt with according to applicable regulations. The officers were directed to give concerned persons an opportunity to explain before recording any adverse conclusion.
The High Court directed that the petitioners face no adverse academic or administrative consequences during the proceedings. Respondent No. 6 was barred, until further orders, from evaluating Petitioner No. 2's answer scripts or handling disciplinary or hostel matters concerning either petitioner and was relieved of administrative responsibilities until completion of the inquiries.
The Court also directed confidentiality and ordered the matter to be listed again on September 24, 2026.
Case Details
Case Title: Shubhendu Anand And Another v. State of U.P. And 5 Others
Case Number: Writ-C No. 37012 of 2026
Judge: Justice Vinod Diwakar
Decision Date: September 16, 2026
