The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday directed the University of Kashmir to call the petitioner, a law graduate, for the award of gold medal at the 19th Annual Convocation to be held on July 27, 2021 at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.
The petitioner-in-person, Aatir Javed Kawoosa, contended that he is a merit holder and secured first position in B.A. LL.B. five years integrated course batch 2014-2019. The examinations of the said course were held in November-December 2019 and the result was declared on 17.02.2020.
The Deputy Registrar Tabulation vide Communication dated 17.03.2020 addressed to Joint Registrar (General) University of Kashmir forwarded the list of position holders in order of merit of the candidates of B.A., LL. B. Batch, 2014-2019, in which the name of the petitioner is figuring at Serial No. 1 and has been shown to have secured first position in the examination and even the merit certificate has also been issued in favour of the petitioner dated 12.09.2020 certifying that the petitioner is eligible for award of University Gold Medal for securing first position in B.A., LL.B. Batch 2014. The certificate further reveals that the gold medal shall be awarded in the upcoming University Convocation.
It is further contended that the University vide Notification dated 16.07.2021 invited applications from merit holders to get themselves registered for attending the 19th Annual Convocation which is going to be held in the last week of July 2021 at SKICC Srinagar. The notice further reveals that the meritorious candidates, who have secured 1st position in the list in the examination given in the notification since September 2012, will also be admitted to the convocation for the award of gold/silver medals and cash prizes.
The case of the petitioner that in terms of communication dated July 16, 2021, he has submitted online application form for attending the 19th Annual Convocation. The University has issued a Notification dated 20.07.2021, where under the private respondents have been selected for the upcoming Annual Convocation. The notification further reveals that private respondents were asked to get themselves registered online for the University Convocation. The said communication was issued prior to the last date of submitting online forms i.e. July 23, 2021.
The petitioner feeling aggrieved of the action of the respondent-University for not calling him to attend the 19th Annual Convocation as well as not selecting for the Convocation approached the High Court challenging the impugned Communications.
A single-judge bench of Justice Tashi Rabstan issued notice to the respondents. “In the meanwhile, subject to objections, respondent-University is directed to call the petitioner for the award of gold medal at the 19th Annual Convocation to be held on 27th July, 2021 at SKICC, Srinagar, having regard to the certificate issued by the Joint Registrar (General), University of Kashmir, provided the petitioner has secured first position in B.A., LL. B, Batch, 2014,” the order reads.
The High Court has posted the matter on August 6 for further hearing.