IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Reserved on : 24^th April, 2025 Date of Pronouncement: 12^th May, 2025

1. LPA No. 128 of 2023 (O&M)

Virender Kumar and others … Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others … Respondents

2. LPA No. 146 of 2023 (O&M)

Manoj Kumar and others … Appellants Versus State of Haryana and others … Respondents

3. LPA No. 215 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Arun Kumar and others …Respondents

3. LPA No. 216 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Sanjeev Tanwer and others …Respondents

4. LPA No. 217 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Sunita and others …Respondents

5. LPA No. 223 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Rahul Kairon and others …Respondents Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Nitin Saini and others …Respondents

8. LPA No. 225 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Manohar Lal Rajpal and others …Respondents

9. LPA No. 226 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Bajrang Lal and others …Respondents

10. LPA No. 228 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Mohan Lal and others …Respondents

11. LPA No. 229 of 2023 (O&M)

Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal … Appellant Versus Girish Kumar and others …Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE H. S. GREWAL Present Mr. D.S. Patwalia, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Gaurav Rana, Advocate, for the appellant(s) in LPA-146-2023.

Mr. Arjun Partap Atma Ram, Advocate, for the appellant(s) in LPA-128-2023.

Mr. Jagbir Singh, Advocate for the appellant(s)

in LPAs-215 to 217, 223 to 226, 228 and 229 of 2023 and for respondent No.4 in LPAs-128 and 146 of 2023.

Mr. Pankaj Middha, Additional Advocate General, Haryana.

Mr. Gurminder Singh, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Jatinder Singh Gill, Advocate, for respondent No.5 in LPA-146-2023.

Mr. S.K. Garg Narwana, Senior Advocate, assisted by Mr. Vishal Garg Narwana, Advocate Mr. Nitin Sachdeva, Advocate, and Ms. Nancy Antwal, Advocate for respondents No.9 to 13 in LPA-128-2023.

Ms. Prerna Malhotra, Advocate for Mr. Prateek Mahajan, Advocate, for respondent No.9 in LPA-216-2023.

Mr. Inder Pal Singh, Advocate for Mr. Nitin Kaushal, Advocate, for the respondents-AICTE.

Mr. R.P. Dangi, Advocate and Mr. Sagar Dangi, Advocate for respondents No. 9 to 13 in LPA-128-2023, for respondents No. 6 to 9 in LPA-146-2023, for respondents No. 5 to 12 in LPA-215-2023, for respondents No. 6 to 8 in LPA-217-2023, for respondents No. 10 to 19 in LPA-223-2023, for respondents No. 12 to 19 in LPA-224-2023, for respondents No. 8 to 12 in LPA-225-2023, for respondents No. 6 to 13 in LPA-226-2023 and for respondents No. 6 to 9 in LPA-228-2023. for respondents No. 4 to 8 in LPA-229-2023.

Mr. S.P. Lather, Advocate and Mr. Shubham Saroha, Advocate, for respondent No.8 in LPA-

128-2023 and for respondents No.2 and 3 in LPA-225-2023.

Mr. Arjun Sheoran, Advocate and Mr. Tejasvi Sheokand, Advocate, for respondent No.1 in LPA-217-2023.

SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J.

This order will dispose of eleven appeals i.e. LPA Nos. 128, 146, 215, 216, 217, 223, 224, 225, 226, 228 and 229 of 2023, as common questions of law and facts are involved therein. Facts of these cases are being noticed from LPA No. 128 of 2023 preferred by appellants Virender Kumar and others.

2. Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, District Sonipat (for short, ‘the University’) is in appeal alongwith the affected candidates, who have filed their separate appeals, against the judgment dated 21.12.2022 passed by learned Sin