Dr Ekta Bishnoi v. Adesh University And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH (I) CWP-8840-2026 Date of Decision : April 10, 2026 DR. EKTA BISHNOI -PETITIONER V/S ADESH UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS (II) CWP-8850-2026 DR. ANUJ CHOPRA -PETITIONER V/S ADESH UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS (III) CWP-10904-2026 DR. AMRITDEEP SINGH -PETITIONER V/S ADESH UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS -RESPONDENTS

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI

Present:

Mr. Aditya Sanghi, Advocate, and Mr. Pradeep Bhardwaj, Advocate for the petitioner (in CWP-8840-2026).

Mr. Dinesh Mahajan, Advocate for the petitioner (in CWP-8850-2026).

Mr. Sumer Singh Brar, Advocate for the petitioner (in CWP-10904-2026).

Mr. Gaurav Chopra, Sr. Advocate, with Mr. Jatinder Singh Gill, Advocate for respondent- University.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, A.A.G., Punjab.

*** KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL) 1.

All these writ petitions are amenable for being decided through

a common verdict on account of their inhering a common issue for consideration. The relief yearned for in these writ petitions appertains to the issuance of directions to the respondent-University to release the original educational certificates of the petitioners, which are stated to be illegally retained by it.

2.

On the previous date of hearing, i.e. 09.04.2026, this Court had passed the following order:- "Having heard learned counsel for the parties at a considerable length, this Court is of the considered opinion that the respondent-University, under no circumstances, can withhold the original educational certificates/documents of the petitioners. Therefore, a direction is passed upon learned counsel for the respondent-University to bring all the certificates/documents of the petitioners on the next date of hearing, which shall be handed over to them in the Court itself.

Adjourned to 10.04.2026.

To be shown in the urgent.

A photocopy of this order be placed on the files of connected cases."

3.

In compliance with the directions embodied in the hereinabove extracted order, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondentUniversity has today handed over all the original educational certificates/ documents of the petitioners to their respective counsel, who, upon verification thereof, have expressed their satisfaction. 4.

At this stage, learned senior counsel for the respondentUniversity submits that the petitioners have not only acted in breach of the surety bonds executed by them, whereby they were obligated to serve the institution for a period of one year, but they are also in arrears of tuition fees. It is submitted that the issue pertaining to the tuition fee structure, as

formulated and fixed by the University, is already sub judice and pending adjudication before this Court in CWP-13688-2023 and CWP-23101-2022. It is, therefore, requested that the respondent-University be granted liberty to avail appropriate statutory remedy(ies) in respect of the breach of bonds executed by the petitioners, and that the petitioners as well as one of their parents be directed to furnish a written undertaking that, upon adjudication of the writ petitions (supra), they shall be bound by the decision therein and shall comply with the fee structure, as ultimately be determined by this Court, and deposit the fee.

5.

This Court finds the aforesaid submissions to be fair and reasonable. Learned counsel for the petitioners also do not object to the same. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of in the following terms:- (a) Since the original educational certificates/documents have already been handed over to the petitioners' counsel, their grievance no longer survives;

(b) The petitioners and one of their parents shall, within a period of two weeks from today, furnish a written undertaking to the respondent-University to the effect that they shall be bound by the outcome of the writ petitions (supra) to the extent of the fee structure as determined by this Court therein. A copy of such undertaking shall also be placed on record before the Registry of this Court within two weeks from today; (c) In the event of petitioners' failure to comply with the aforesaid direction, the respondent-University shall be at liberty to initiate contempt proceedings against them; (d) The respondent-University shall also be at liberty to initiate appropriate proceedings in accordance with law, in case, it is of the view that there has been a breach of the surety bonds executed by the petitioners.

6.

In view of the above, nothing substantive survives for adjudication in these writ petitions. It is, however, clarified that the question(s) of law involved herein are left open to be adjudicated in appropriate proceedings.

7.

A photocopy of this order be placed on file of each connected case.

(KULDEEP TIWARI) April 10, 2026 JUDGE devinder Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether Reportable :

Yes/No