( 1 ) THIS petition under Art. 226 of the Constitution was initially filed on 16-4-1987 by 15 petitioners against the Aligarh Muslim University Controller of Examination, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Dean Faculty of Engineering for Mandamus directing the respondents aforesaid to permit them to appear in the Examination of B. Sc. Engineering (Final year) for the academic year 1986-87 which was going to commence on 18-4-1987 along with an application for interim order.

( 2 ) THE petitioners 1 to 13 were the students of B. Sc. Engineering (final year) of Mechanical Engineering and petitioners 14 and 15 were the students of B. Sc. Engineering (Chemical) final year. They had completed their IV year. They were however, detained and were not permitted in the V year due to shortage of attendance.

( 3 ) CHAPTER XVII of the Academic Ordinances deals with "examinations". Clause I of the Ordinance lays down as to who are regular students. It reads :" (A) regular students, i. e. candidates who have undergone a regular course of study in the University or an institution maintained by the University for a period specified for that course of study. "clause 2, which is r