High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCWP/19169/2026disposed of

Universal College Of Law v. State Of Punjab And Others

2026-06-25Mr. Justice Vikas Bahl,Ms. Justice Ramesh Kumari6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: June 25th, 2026 Universal College of Law .....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and others .....Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS BAHL HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE RAMESH KUMARI

Present:

Mr. Ashish Rawal and Mr. R.S. Kalra, Advocates for the petitioner.

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Ms. Divya Godara, Advocate for respondents No.2 to 4.

Mr. R. Kartikeya, Advocate (through V.C.) for respondents No.5 and 6.

VIKAS BAHL, J. (ORAL) 1.

In the present writ petition, the following prayers have been made:

"Civil Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following reliefs: - (i) to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondents to produce complete record of the case; (ii) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned letter dated 24.12.2025 (Annexure P-25), 12.03.2026 (Annexure P-27), 01.04.2026 (Annexure P-29), 23.04.2026 (Annexure P-30) whereby in an illegal and arbitrary manner fine of 18.5 lakhs have been imposed towards the late deposit of the examination fee during the Covid pandemic for the

session 2020-21, in a nonspeaking manner, despite the fact that the similar worded order had already been set aside by this Hon'ble decision dated 25.10.2024 passed in CWP No. 29476 of 2022 (Annexure P-24) and liberty was granted to pass a speaking order, yet after a span of more than 1 year, without assigning any reasons are similarly worded order has been issued in an illegal and arbitrary manner;

(iii) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the letter dated 13.05.2026 (Annexure P-33) whereby it has been directed not to forward the mandatory Performa of the petitioner Institute to the nodal agency for making admissions in the academic session 2026-27 despite the fact that the name of the petitioner Institute is envisaged in the notification dated 01.04.2026 (Annexure P-38) issued by the respondent state, wherein the name of the petitioner Institute has been included in the list of recognised colleges for the academic session 2026-27;

(iv) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari as well as prohibition for setting aside the letter dated 21.05.2026 (Annexure P-35) whereby the penalty of 18.5 lakhs has been ordered to be deposited in instalments and the petitioner under protest has deposited the 1st instalment as the mandatory Performa had been withheld for making admissions for the academic session 2026-27 and restraining the respondents from forcing the present petitioner to deposit the remaining instalments as the imposition of penalty is illegal and arbitrary, for the reasons stated in the present petition;

(v) Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus summoning

the record of the case from the respondent university especially the proceedings of the alleged committee which was constituted as noticed in the letter dated 24.12.2025 (Annexure P-25) and noticed in the letter dated 06.05.2026 (Annexure P-32), since no such proceedings of the committee have ever seen the light of the day and further issuing a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the proceedings of the same, for the reasons stated in the present petition; (vi) Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus summoning the records of the case especially the record pertaining to the petitioner college whereby decision has been taken, that against the amount of Rs. 9,57,140/- due towards the examination fees which stood deposited in the month of March, 2021 fine of Rs.

18,50,000/- has been imposed and further, issuing writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the said orders of imposition of fine and all notices issued based upon the same and further, if necessary, quashing letter dated 16.10.2020 (Annexure P-21) which prescribes imposition of fine, though the said letter is pertaining to the admissions during normal course and not during extra-ordinary circumstances of pandemic, since the date of deposit of examination fees in the letter dated 16.10.

(vii) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent Punjabi University to duly sign/issue the mandatory Performa required by the respondent GNDU University for making admissions for the academic session 2026-27 in B.A. LL.B. and LL.B. Courses with intake capacity of 120 seats each as

notified by the respondent No. 1 in its notification dated 01.04.2026 (Annexure P-38);

(viii) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent-Guru Nanak Dev University which is the nodal agency for making admissions in the field of law for the academic session 2026-27 of except the mandatory Performa and to include the name of the petitioner Institute for the online counselling for making admissions for the academic session 2026-27 in B.A. LL.B. and LL.B. Courses with intake capacity of 120 seats each;

(ix) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to make admissions for the academic session 2026-27 in B.A. LL.B. and LL.B. Courses with intake capacity of 120 seats each, for the reasons stated in the present petition;

(x) It is further prayed that this Hon'ble Court may issue any other writ, order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case;

Learned counsel for respondents No.2 to 4 has submitted that in pursuance of the request made by the petitioner, respondent No.2/University vide letter dated 21.05.2026 has permitted the petitioner to pay an amount of 18,50,000/- which was the penalty imposed, by way of instalments. The details of the instalments have been mentioned in the said letter and are reproduced hereinbelow:

Sr. No.

Instalment Amount Date 1.

First Rs. 5,00,000/- 28/05/26

Second Rs. 5,00,000/- 31/08/26 3.

Third Rs. 5,00,000/- 30/11/26 4.

Fourth Rs. 3,50,000/- 31/01/27 For your information.

Assistant Registrar, Accounts-2"

It is further submitted that the petitioner, in compliance to the same, has also submitted the first instalement of 5 lakh on 28.05.2026 and has submitted that the petitioner has agreed to pay the subsequent instalments on the dates which have been mentioned in the said letter dated 21.05.2026. It is further submitted that since the first instalment was paid, thus, the respondent/University has issued the mandatory proforma to respondent No.5, a copy of which has been handed over to the Court during the course of arguments, which is taken on record as Mark 'A'. 4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner would pay the instalements as stated in letter dated 21.05.2026. It is further submitted that the petitioner is dissatisfied with the mandatory proforma to the extent the approved intake has been reduced from 120 to 60 with respect to B.A. LL.B.-5 years and from 120 to 60 with respect to LL.B.-3 years.

Learned counsel for the respondent/University has submitted that the said reduction is on account of separate cause of action i.e. due to faculty shortage.

Learned counsel appearing for respondent No.5-GND University has submitted that the mandatory proforma which has been

issued by respondent No.2 to the extent of intake approved i.e. 60 for B.A. LL.B.-5 years and 60 for LL.B.-3 years would be processed and the name of the petitioner institute would be included in the process of counselling to the extend of the said students.

Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions from Mr. Mohan Lal, Deputy Registrar, Universal College of Law, has submitted that in view of the same, the present petition be disposed of but the respondents be bound by the statement made before this Court. It is further submitted that liberty be granted to the petitioner to challenge the reduction of the intake of the sanctioned strength, if so advised, in accordance with law.

Keeping in view the abovesaid facts and circumstances, the present petition is disposed of.

Petitioner as well as respondents would be bound by the statement/arguments raised before this Court. Liberty as sought by the petitioner is also granted.

(VIKAS BAHL) JUDGE June 25th, 2026 (RAMESH KUMARI) Puneet JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes Whether reportable :