The Allahabad High Court has stayed further proceedings in a case concerning allegations of caste-based discrimination at Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj, after questioning the decision to have the allegations examined by judicial officers.
A Division Bench of Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh passed the order on September 23, 2026, in Dr. Deepak Sharma v. State of U.P. and 6 Others. The Bench observed that the University already had an Equal Opportunity Cell under its regulations to examine such complaints.
Background
The appeal arose from an earlier order dated September 16, 2026, passed in a writ petition concerning complaints made by two University students. The complaints sought an inquiry through an appropriately constituted Equal Opportunity Cell after excluding Dr. Deepak Sharma, who was arrayed as respondent no. 6 in the writ proceedings, from the process because of the alleged conflict of interest.
During the appeal, counsel for Dr. Sharma argued that he had not consented to the formation of a fresh judicial inquiry committee. The University's counsel, however, stated that it had agreed to the Court's proposal for such a committee to ensure fairness and transparency. Counsel for the students also stated that they had originally sought an inquiry through the University's Equal Opportunity Cell but had not opposed the judicial inquiry after the University agreed to it.
The Division Bench prima facie found that the judicial inquiry required reconsideration because the University already had an Equal Opportunity Cell capable of examining the allegations.
The Court observed:
"Even if the allegations are of a serious nature, the power of the University to examine such allegations through an appropriately constituted Equal Opportunity Cell ought not to have been taken away, as it is within the domain of the University to look into the welfare of the students and deal with situations as they arise."
The Bench also noted that the inquiry report was due on September 24, 2026. It directed that, if the report had already been prepared, it should be placed before the Court in a sealed cover when the matter was taken up next.
The High Court stayed further proceedings in Writ C No. 37012 of 2026 until the next listing of the special appeal. The matter was directed to be placed before the appropriate Court as a fresh case on September 29, 2026.
The Bench also left open for the next hearing a request to stay other directions contained in the earlier order.
Case Details
- Case Title: Dr. Deepak Sharma v. State of U.P. and 6 Others
- Case Number: Special Appeal Defective No. 694 of 2026
- Judges: Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh
- Decision Date: September 23, 2026
