Dibakar Behera v. University Grants Commission & ORS

$~61 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 1578/2016 DIBAKAR BEHERA ..... Petitioner Through: Mr. Sumeet Kaul, Adv.

versus UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION & ORS..... Respondents Through: Mr. Apoorvkurup with Mr.

Abhikchimni, Advs. for UGC

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN

O R D E R

% 24.02.2016 The present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner's application for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship and decide it afresh. It has been averred that the petitioner is a student belonging to scheduled caste from below poverty line from the State of Orissa. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that many students from Orissa have been declared qualified for the Fellowship even though they had lower percentage than the petitioner. He further states that respondent No. 1 has not given any reply to the RTI application filed by the petitioner.

In the opinion of this Court, if a RTI application is not replied to, the petitioner has an alternative effective remedy by way of an appeal.

However, keeping in view the facts of the present case, it is directed that if the petitioner were to file a representation with respondent No. 1 within a period of one week, the said respondent shall dispose of the same by way of a reasoned order within a period of four weeks thereafter.

In the event, the petitioner is aggrieved by the response given by respondent No. 1, the petitioner shall be at liberty to file appropriate proceedings in accordance with law. With the aforesaid direction and liberty, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

MANMOHAN, J FEBRUARY 24, 2016 NG