IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 20.03.2026 Vishal Chaudhary …Petitioner Versus Panjab University, Chandigarh and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Shivam Joshi, Advocate and Mr. Binat Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Indresh Goel, Advocate for the respondents.

****

KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioner, who is pursuing B.Com LL.B (Hons.), Five Year Integrated Course with respondents University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, has approached this Court, through the instant writ petition, cast under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a mandamus, upon the respondents, to promote the petitioner to the next academic year, as he fulfills 50% eligible criteria.

2. The case, as set up by the petitioner is, to the effect, that Ist Semester Examination was held in December, 2022, in which, the petitioner cleared two out six papers. Thereafter, he applied for re-evaluation, within 15 days from the declaration of the result, which yielded fruit, and he was declared to have cleared one additional paper. The petitioner appeared in 2^nd Semester Examination, and he cleared one out of six papers. Similarly, in the 3^rd Semester, the petitioner cleared one out of six papers. Initially, the petitioner cleared four papers, out of 12 papers, and thereafter, he cleared the remaining papers, and was promoted to the second year. In the 4^th Semester Examination, the petitioner cleared three out of six papers, and he applied for re-evaluation within 15 days, from declaration of the result. Despite timely applying for re-evaluation, the result was not declared by the University concerned, in a time bound manner, and due to non-declaration of the re-evaluation result before December, 2025, the petitioner at the relevant time did not formally completed 12 out of 24 papers, and he was not permitted to appear in the 5^th Semester Examination. Subsequently, re-evaluation result was declared on 03.02.2026 (Annexure P-5), in which, he was declared to have successfully cleared one additional paper, and the total number of cleared papers became 12 out of 24 papers.

3. Now, by referring to the sequence of events, as narrated (supra), it is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is eligible to appear in the 6^th Semester Examination. He has also placed reliance upon the judgment passed by this Court in CWP-8167-2026, titled ‘Armaan Chahal vs. Panjab University, Chandigarh and another’ decided on 17.03.2026, to submit that similar issue arises for consideration before this Court, wherein, the direction was passed upon the respondents/University concerned, to allow the petitioner therein, to appear in the relevant semester examination.

4. Mr. Indresh Goel, Advocate, who is representing the respondents, submits that the case of the present petition is squarely covered with the decision rendered by this Court in Armaan Chahal (supra), and therefore, the similar relief can also be granted to the present petitioner. The relevant extract of the above judgment are reproduced hereinafter :-

“2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is pursuing B.A/B.Com LL.B (Hons.), Five Year Integrated Course with respondents University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Punjab University, Chandigarh, and he has cleared one examination of Ist Semester, out of six examinations, as well as, four examinations of 2^nd Semester, out of six examinations. He further submits that immediately after declaration of the result of 2^nd Semester, the petitioner applied for re-evaluation/re-checking of two papers, i.e. English-II (compulsory) and Business Economics Minor (a), which yielded fruits and the said result was declared on 15.01.2026, in which, the petitioner cleared one more examination of English-II (compulsory). Therefore, the petitioner has cleared 50% of the examinations of the Ist year of B.Co