By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: After four years of struggle including a prolonged judicial battle, justice has finally been meted to Shatrudhan Upadhaya, a former student of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
Following a judgement by the Shillong bench of the Gauhati High Court, NEHU has finally awarded Gold Medal to Upadhaya for securing the First Class First position in LL.B Examination, 2008.
Initially, when the results of the Third (Final) Year LL.B Examination, 2008 was declared by NEHU, Upadhaya, a student of Shillong Law College (2005-2008 batch) was placed in the Second Class.
Dissatisfied with the marks obtained in Paper XX and XXI of the Final year, Upadhaya had sought for re-evaluation of those papers. Following the re-evaluation, the University enhanced the marks in those two papers which led to an overall increase in his total marks and resultantly he was placed in the First Class.
Despite being the only candidate to have secured First Class in the examination the NEHU denied him the Gold Medal and Book Prize based on NEHU regulations which reads as – ‘No retrospective benefits such as Gold Medal, Scholarship, Fellowship admission, promotion etc., shall accrue to a candidate as a result of re-evaluation’.
Finding no alternative Upadhaya approached the Gauhati High Court against the University.
The writ petition was finally disposed of by the Division Bench of the court on June 12 wherein the University was directed to award the petitioner the Gold Medal for the LL.B Examination for the year 2008.
The Court further directed that if the petitioner is entitled to get any other benefits like Book Prize, Rank Certificate etc., the respondent (NEHU) shall also give these benefits to the petitioner.
“The entire exercise shall be carried out within six weeks,” the court ordered.
