Patna High Court
Taufik AlamversusThe Union of India
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- ALOK KUMAR SINHA
Holding
The court ordered the Vice‑Chancellor of IGNOU to dispose of the pending representation within six weeks and, if the petitioner is entitled to the certificate, to issue it within two weeks.
Summary
The petitioner, Taufik Alam, filed a writ petition seeking the issuance of his original Associate Degree Certificate and a verification certificate from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), alleging that his representation dated 5 January 2026 to the Vice‑Chancellor remained pending. He also requested a time‑bound order for the university to grant the reliefs. The university and the Union of India raised no objection to the limited prayer. The Court, noting the pending representation, directed the Vice‑Chancellor to dispose of the representation within six weeks, after affording the petitioner a hearing, and to issue a reasoned order. If the representation is found in the petitioner’s favour, the university must issue the certificate within an additional two weeks. The writ application was consequently disposed of, with all interlocutory applications deemed disposed.
Issues considered
- What relief, if any, can the court order a public university to grant in a writ petition concerning the issuance of a degree certificate?
- Whether the court can direct the Vice‑Chancellor to dispose of a pending representation within a specified time frame.
Subjects
- writ jurisdiction
- degree certificate
- public university
- administrative law
- right to education
- representation
- time‑bound order
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2681 of 2026
======================================================
Taufik Alam S/o Amanat Hussain, Resident of Village Majhwaliya, Post-
Nagra, P.S. Marhaura, District - Saran at Chapra, Bihar - 841442.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Union of India represented through Secretary, Ministry of Human
Resources, Development, Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
PIN - 110001.
2. Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, PIN -
110068.
3. The Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan
Garhi, New Delhi, PIN - 110068.
4. The Registrar (Student Evaluation Division), Indira Gandhi National Open
University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, PIN 110068.
5. The Registrar, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional Centre,
Patna Institutional Area, Mithapur, Patna 800001, Bihar (India).
6. The Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional
Centre, Patna Institutional Area, Mithapur, Patna 800001, Bihar (India).
7. The Assistant Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National Open University,
Regional Centre, Patna Institutional Area, Mithapur, Patna - 800001, Bihar
(India).
8. The Principal Dr. Zakir Hussian IGNOU Community College, Opposite
A.N. College, Dr. Uttam Kumar Singh Path, Boring Road, Patna-Pin code-
800013.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Md. Azimuddin, Adv
Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh, Adv
Mr. Aman Kumar Singh, Adv
For the U.O.I : Mr. Ramadhar Shekher, CGC
For the University : Mr. Kundan Kumar Singh, Adv
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK KUMAR SINHA
ORAL ORDER
2 30-04-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned
counsel for the Indira Gandhi National Open University and
learned counsel for the Union of India.
2. With the consent of all the parties, this writ
Patna High Court CWJC No.2681 of 2026(2) dt.30-04-2026
2/4
application is being disposed of at this stage itself.
3. In the present writ application, the petitioner has
prayed for the grant of following reliefs:
“(i) For commanding and
directing the Respondents to forthwith issue
the Original Degree Certificate for the
Associate Degree in Dresser Compoundry
(Session JANUARY, 2010- DECEMBER,
2011), Enrollment No. C10006015) to the
Petitioner.
(ii) For commanding and directing
the Respondents to issue a bona fide
certificate/academic verification certificate
to the Petitioner certifying that the
Petitioner has successfully completed the
Associate Degree in Dresser Compoundry
course, pending issuance of the Original
Certificate, so that the Petitioner can submit
the same for Document Verification
purposes;
(iii) For commanding and
directing the Respondents to issue the
certificate within a time bound period as
fixed by this Hon'ble Court.
(iv) For the grant of any other
relief/reliefs for which the Petitioner is found
entitled in the facts and Circumstances of the
Case.”
Patna High Court CWJC No.2681 of 2026(2) dt.30-04-2026
3/4
4. After advancing some argument, learned counsel
for the petitioner submits that for seeking the aforesaid reliefs,
the petitioner has already filed a representation dated
05.01.2026 (Annexure- P/3 series) before the V.C. of Indira
Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, which as per the
petitioner, is pending. He, therefore, submits that an appropriate
direction be issued to the V.C. of Indira Gandhi National Open
University, New Delhi to dispose of the pending representation
of the petitioner within a fixed time frame, after giving an
opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
5. To the aforesaid prayer being made by learned
counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel appearing for the
respondent-University and learned counsel appearing for Union
of India do not have any objection.
6. Considering the limited nature of prayer being
made by learned counsel for the petitioner, this writ application
is disposed of directing the V.C. of Indira Gandhi National Open
University, New Delhi to dispose of the pending representation
of the petitioner dated 05.01.2026 (Annexure- P/3 series) within
six weeks from the date of production of a copy of this order by
the petitioner, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the
petitioner. Needless to emphasize that the final order which shall
Patna High Court CWJC No.2681 of 2026(2) dt.30-04-2026
4/4
be passed by the V.C. of Indira Gandhi National Open
University, New Delhi should be a reasoned and speaking order.
In case, the petitioner is found entitled to the relief which he has
claimed through the representation, the same shall be extended
to the petitioner within a further period of two weeks from the
date of passing of the final order.
7. With the aforesaid observation/direction, this writ
application is disposed of. All pending interlocutory
application(s), if any, shall also be deemed to have been
disposed of.
(Alok Kumar Sinha, J)
kiran/-
U
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