HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K. LAKSHMAN

ORDER

Head Mr. M.V. Sai Teja Kambalapally, learned counsel for the petitioner and Dr. P. B. Vijay Kumar, learned Senior Counsel representing Mrs. A.V.S Laxmi, learned Standing Counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 5.

2. The present writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the impugned orders dated 19.02.2025 passed by respondentNo.4 (Appellate Authority), dismissing the appeal preferred by the petitioner against the orders dated 19.11.2024 of the respondent No.3 whereby the petitioner’s admission to Ph.D., Programme in the Department of English Language Education, Regional Campus, EFL University, Lucknow, was cancelled, and his name struck off from the Rolls of the Institution, including denial of re-admission, as arbitrary, illegal, violative of the principles of natural justice, and contrary to the directions issued by this Court in W.P. No.

29304 of 2024 and W.P. No. 35854 of 2024.

3. Facts of the case i) The petitioner was provisionally admitted to the Ph.D.

Programme in English Language Education for the academic year 2024–25 at the Regional Campus of The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Lucknow, vide Provisional Admission Letter No. EFLU-RC-LKO/Acad./F-1016/2024/235 dated August 2024. He was also allotted hostel accommodation by the Campus authorities.

ii) EFLU is a Central University established under the English and Foreign Languages University Act, 2006, having its main campus at Hyderabad and regional campuses at Lucknow and Shillong. Respondent No.3, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), is the statutory body constituted under the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015 (hereinafter UGC, Regulation 2015).

iii) In early September 2024, the Warden of the Lucknow Campus received multiple complaints from students, both male and female, alleging acts of sexual harassment, intimidation, and inappropriate conduct by the petitioner. These complaints were forwarded to the University’s Head Office, Hyderabad, and placed before the ICC for inquiry in accordance with the UGC Regulations, 2015.

iv) The ICC conducted an inquiry, examined the complainants and witnesses, and submitted its report dated 19.09.2024 recommending cancellation of the petitioner’s admission. Acting on the said report, the Registrar issued orders dated 20.09.2024 striking the petitioner’s name off the University rolls.

v) Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner filed W.P. No. 29304 of

2024 before this Court. By order dated 04.11.2024, the Court set aside the ICC report and expulsion order, holding that the inquiry had not been conducted in accordance with Regulation 8 of the UGC Regulations, 2015, and directed the respondents to conduct a fresh inquiry within fifteen (15) days, strictly following due procedure.

vi) Pursuant thereto, the ICC issued a fresh notice dated

06.11.2024 enclosing copies of the complaints and calling for the petitioner’s explanation, which was submitted on 09.11.2024. A de novo inquiry was held on 18.11.2024 at Hyderabad in the presence of the complainants, witnesses, and the petitioner. The ICC thereafter issued its report dated 19.11.2024 again finding the petitioner guilty of sexual harassment and recommending expulsion, striking off his name from the rolls, and denying re-admission.

vii) On the basis of the ICC’s recommendation, the competent authority passed the consequential order dated 19.11.2024. Aggrieved, the petitioner submitted an appeal by e-mail on 28.11.2024 titled “Appeal against ICC Inquiry Report and Recommendations” to respondent No.4 (Appellate Authority). As no decision was take, the petitioner filed W.P. No. 35854 of 2024, and by order dated 07.01.2025, this Court directed the Appellate Authority to dispose of the appeal within fifteen (15) days.

viii) Pursuant thereto, respondent No.4 fixed a hearin