Vyjainto Kumar Ray v. Biju Patnaik University Of Technology,Odisha
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P.(C) NO. 14299 OF 2022 Vyjainto Kumar Ray ....
Petitioner Mr. Saswat Das, Advocate -versusBiju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha and others ....
Opp. Parties
CORAM:
JUSTICE K.R. MOHAPATRA
ORDER
Order No.
07.06.2022 1.
1.
This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.
2.
The Petitioner in this writ petition prays for a direction to the Opposite Parties-BPUT to accept his thesis (research papers) for his Ph.D. Degree by extending the date till 30th June, 2022 in terms of the public notice dated 1st December, 2021 issued by the University Grants Commission under Annexure-18.
3.
Mr. Das, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that pursuant to the e-mail communication dated 7th February, 2022 of BPUT (Annexure-16 series) to submit his thesis by 28th February, 2022, a seminar was arranged by the Guide of the Petitioner on 17th February, 2022 and a communication to that effect was made on the same day to the Professor (In-charge) Research and Development Cell, BPUT-Opposite Party No.3. But no communication was received either by the Guide of the Petitioner or by him to submit his thesis for which he could not submit the same by the stipulated date, i.e. by 28th February, 2022. In the meantime, the University Grants Commission came up with a public notice dated 1st December, 2021 in which it has been stipulated as under:
// 2 // "F.No.1-10/2020 (CPC-II) 01 Dec. 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE Extension of date for submission of thesis for terminal M. Phil./Ph.D. Students.
In continuation to UGC Public Notice dated 16th March, 2021 on the above mentioned subject, and keeping in view the larger interest of the research scholars, a further extension of six months beyond 31.12.2021, i.e. till 30th June, 2022, for submission of thesis by M.Phil./Ph.D. students may be granted by the Universities. It is also notified that the extension for submission of M.Phil./Ph.D. thesis till June, 2022 shall be applicable to all such students whose due date of submission of M.Phil./Ph.D. thesis is on or before 30.06.2022.
Extension of six months, as mentioned above, may also be granted for submitting evidence of publication and presentation in two conferences. However, tenure of fellowship will remain up to five years only.
Sd/-Rajnish Jain"
4.
The Petitioner accordingly submitted a representation to the Vice-Chancellor, BPUT on 25th February, 2022 under Annexure-18 to accept the research papers and do the needful, but no action has yet been taken on the same. Hence, finding no other alternative, the Petitioner has filed this writ petition for the aforesaid relief. 5.
Mr. Das, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the authorities of BPUT should take a decision on the representation of the Petitioner under Annexure-18 at an early date to save the academic career of the Petitioner by extending the time to accept the research papers till 30th June, 2022.
6.
Taking into consideration the innocuous nature of the prayer made by the Petitioner and the fact that the letter dated 25th February, 2022 of the Petitioner addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of BPUT under Annexure-18 is still pending for consideration, this
// 3 // Court disposes of this writ petition with a direction to the ViceChancellor of BPUT-Opposite Party No.2 to take a decision on the letter dated 25th February, 2022 of the Petitioner under Annexure18 as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of two weeks from the date of production of certified copy of this order keeping in mind the public notice dated 1st December, 2021 issued by the University Grants Commission with regard to submission of research papers (thesis).
Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.
(K.R. Mohapatra) bks Vacation Judge