Nitlesh Lohchab v. Prof. Kanjilal (Vice Chancellor Ignou) And ORS & ORS.
$~83 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CONT.CAS(C) 689/2025 NITLESH LOHCHAB .....Petitioner Through:
Ms. Latika Choudhury, Advs. along with petitioner in person.
versus PROF. KANJILAL (VICE CHANCELLOR IGNOU) AND ORS & ORS.
.....Respondents Through:
Ms. Manasi Bhushan, Ms. Sanjana Patel, Mohd. Navas K., Mr. Akshit Chaudhary, Advs. for IGNOU along with Mr. Kamal Kant Sahay (Dy.
Registrar, Recruitment, IGNOU).
Mr.
Sanjay Khanna, Standing Counsel, Ms. Pragya Bhushan, Mr.
Tarandeep Singh, Ms. Vilakshana Dayma, Advs. along with Mr. Vinod Sahu, Director (Legal), NTA.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANISH DAYAL
O R D E R
% 13.05.2025 1.
Pursuant to previous order, Mr. Kamal Kant Sahay, Deputy Registrar, Recruitment, IGNOU, is present in the Court assisted by counsel. 2.
It is stated that as per order dated 22nd August 2024, NTA had submitted that copies of 'applications as well as documents attached' of 199 successful candidates will be furnished to IGNOU. 3.
It is stated that they have been communicating with NTA consistently, however, neither the application form nor the documents have been given. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
4.
Mr. Vinod Sahu, Director (Legal), NTA, is present in Court assisted by counsel. It is stated on behalf of the NTA that as per the Information Brochure and Guidelines for filling the online application form for recruitment, the application form had to be submitted online along with uploading the candidates' photograph & signature in digital format. No additional document was mandated to be uploaded, as per the instructions. Regards the application forms, it is stated that they have been provided in Excel format. 5.
However, it transpires that full information of the applications was not available to IGNOU, considering the digital repository retained by NIC was not accessible, since it had gone into NIC archives. NTA has, therefore, committed itself to pursue NIC in order to provide the digital link which can then be provided to IGNOU, in order that it can access the application forms for the purpose of verification.
6.
As regards the 'documents', NTA's counsel states that there were no further documents which were uploaded by the applicants nor were they required, as per the Information Brochure, and, therefore, they have nothing further to submit to IGNOU.
7.
Counsel for petitioner also states that from the point of view of candidates, they had only uploaded application form along with the photograph & signature and no further documents had been submitted since that was not the mandate of the Information Brochure. 8.
Counsel for IGNOU, however, states that the NTA was mandated to verify the documents inter alia in relation to the caste status, SC/ST status, PwBD status, etc. and points out to Clause 7 of the Information Brochure in this regard, in particular Clause 7(h).
9.
She, therefore, states that the NTA ought to have insisted on these The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
documents for verification before declaration of result. 10.
NTA, however, states that this is the job of IGNOU to verify and was not a part of their mandate.
11.
Considering the matter is stuck in a bureaucratic tussle and deadlock between these two agencies, both of whom are washing their hands of the verification procedure and submission of documentation, while the candidates are left high and dry, in the opinion of this Court, requisite directions will have to be obtained from the Writ Court in this regard. 12.
The matter is listed before the Writ Court in W.P.(C) 815/2024 and other connected matters on 29th July 2025. IGNOU and NTA will both seek clarifications with respect to their respective versions from the Writ Court so that requisite directions can be passed to either of the parties to ensure that documents are made available, in order that verification process can be completed.
13.
Accordingly, IGNOU and NTA shall respectively file their clarification applications before the Writ Court, with respect to the respective versions, on or before 28th May 2025, in context of the submissions made and recorded in this order.
14.
The petition is disposed of with liberty to petitioner to approach this Court in case of any residual issue and infraction. 15.
Order be uploaded on the website of this Court. ANISH DAYAL, J MAY 13, 2025/ak/bp The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.