DU lecturer's plea for extension of study leave dismissed

A bench of erstwhile Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed Ramjas College Statistics Lecturer Chaman Kumar's appeal against the court's single- judge bench's order saying "the court will not interfere into the function of educational institutions."

Kumar had joined Edinburgh University in UK to do his masters in Financial Mathematics on a study leave from Delhi University for September 2010 to September 2011. The DU had granted him the "paid study leave" on the condition that after completing the course, he would serve the DU for three years.

Kumar, however, after completing the course, joined the 45-month-long PhD programme in the same Edinburgh University and even got his leave extended by a year by his college.

But the DU, taking exceptions to the college decision to grant him further leave, sought its explanation, following which the college cancelled his leave, prompting Kumar to move the high court for direction to the DU to extend his leave.

The high court, however, dismissing his plea, saying "We find merit in the University's contention as to the conduct of Kumar. He, as far back as in October 2011, ie, much before applying for admission to PhD Programme or joining the same was in no unclear terms told that he could not do so. Kumar in spite of the same surreptitiously obtained the study leave from the college in breach of his obligation under the agreement with the University." (More)