(1) THIS is an appeal preferred by the Regional Engineering College, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh.

(2) THE respondent before this Court was a student of the appellant college. He fell short of attendance in the last semester. About this, information was furnished to the respondent by placing a notice on the notice board on 19.2.1998. He was also informed personally on 6.4.1998 that he was short of attendance in Computer Application classes. It appears, in spite of it, the respondent absented himself from the classes. Further, in the month of April, from 3rd April, 1998 to 7th April, 1998, he remained absent and did not apply for condonation. It was only on 2nd May, 1998, after lapse of 3 months he made an application for condonation of shortage of attendance in the lectures. His case was considered by the Principal of the college. The Principal refused to grant condonation inasmuch as after deducting the admissible absence of 25%, the Principal was entitled to condone only a further absence of 10% under Regulation 4.1 of Chapter 4 of the Academic Regulations of the College. The Principal felt that after deducting 25% the absence of the respondent was in excess of the