Muslim students can sit for Law Faculty exam on day other than Bakrid: DU tells Delhi High Court

The Delhi University (DU) on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the Law Faculty exam scheduled to be held on Bakrid (May 28) will not come in the way of Muslim students or any other student (irrespective of their religious belief) wishing to celebrate the festival, and a special exam will be held for such students on an alternative day.

Such students can inform the Dean of the Law Faculty through an email and exam will be held for them on a date after July 4 instead of May 28.

DU's lawyer made the statement before Justice Jasmeet Singh who was hearing a plea stating that even though the Central government, DU, Supreme Court and High Court have declared May 28 as a holiday due to Bakrid, the Law Faculty has scheduled an examination on that day.

The Court recorded DU counsel's statement and added that the rescheduled exams will be communicated to the students seeking exemption at least a week in advance.

It then disposed of the plea.

The High Court was hearing a plea filed by Saif Rasheed Said, a sixth-semester student of the Law Faculty. He said that the Law Faculty issued an office memorandum on May 25 stating that it will continue with the examination scheduled on May 28 despite the Central government officially shifting the holiday of Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) from May 27 to May 28.

Saeed sought the postponement of the VI semester 'Public Policy and Administration' examination scheduled for May 28.

In his plea, he contended that the university’s office memorandum was “arbitrary, discriminatory and unconstitutional.” He argued that holding examinations on Bakrid forces Muslim students to choose between appearing for exams and participating in important religious observances with their families.

The petition said that several constitutional institutions, including the Supreme Court of India, have already shifted the Bakrid holiday from May 27 to May 28 in line with the Centre’s notification. It was contended that Delhi University’s refusal to reschedule examinations violates Articles 14, 21, 25 and 29 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, personal liberty and freedom of religion.

The petition was filed through advocate Iram Peerzada.

Advocates Iram Peerzada, Ashok Kumar Singh, Shishir Pinaki and Rashid Saeed appeared for the petitioner.