Nora Beniwal v. Union Of India And ORS & ORS.
$~67 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16340/2025 NORA BENIWAL .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Madhav Bhatia, Ms. Mediavi Bhatia and Ms. Muskan Aggarwal, Advocates.
versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through:
Mr. Viplav Acharya, SPC for UOI.
Mr.
Sameer Vashhisht, Standing Counsel (Civil) for GNCTD.
CORAM:
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA
O R D E R
% 29.10.2025 1.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Viplav Acharya, learned counsel representing the respondent no.1/Union of India. 2.
The proceedings of this Public Interest Litigation Petition have been instituted in relation to implementation of National Education Policy, 2020 promulgated by the Government of India.
3.
The National Education Policy has been issued by the Government of India to ensure various reforms in the field of higher education in different disciplines both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. One of the concerns which has been attempted to be addressed by promulgating the National Education Policy, 2020 is in relation to making provisions for digital libraries and digital access infrastructure in the institutions of higher education. 4.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Pragya Prasun vs. Union of India, (2025) 7 SCC 191 has underscored the need of providing access to essential W.P.(C) 16340/2025 Page 1 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
services in various fields including education. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the said case has even gone to the extent of observing that providing essential services in such fields including education can be traced to 'Right of Life' enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950 in the light of the present day technological developments and realities. 5.
Certain data have also been presented in the writ petition based on surveys and, according to the petitioner, digital divide, to have access to education, is a cause of concern which needs to be addressed. 6.
In the light of the aforesaid concerns, certain prayers have been made by the petitioner which, according to the Court, need to be considered by the Government and its agencies which are responsible statutorily to regulate higher education and to implement the National Education Policy, 2020. Such Government agencies, which need to pay attention to the concerns raised in this petition, are Government of India in the Department Of Higher Education, University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, National Council for Teacher Education, National Medical Commission, Pharmacy Council of India, Dental Council of India and other such statutory bodies. Apart from the aforesaid agencies of the Government of India, such responsibility also lies upon the Higher Education Department of GNCT of Delhi.
7.
Accordingly, we permit the petitioner to represent the authorities as aforesaid, by making a detailed and exhaustive representation/application taking all the pleas, which may be available to the petitioner and enclosing therewith all the documents on which the petitioner intends to rely. Such representation shall be made within one month from today and once any such representation/application is made, the same shall be attended to by the authorities and appropriate decision/action, which may be warranted under law, shall also be taken.
W.P.(C) 16340/2025 Page 2 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
8.
We expect that the authorities shall address the concerns raised in the petition and take appropriate steps to provide for better digital access to the students in the field of higher education in various disciplines and further, shall minimize the digital divide as far as access to means of education such as Digital Library etc. are concerned.
9.
The petition stands disposed of in view of the aforesaid observations and directions. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J OCTOBER 29, 2025 yrj W.P.(C) 16340/2025 Page 3 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.