IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.3269 of 1993 Date of Decision : April 20, 2011. Rubinder Brar .....Petitioner versus Panjab University, Chandigarh and another .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, CHIEF JUSTICE. HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. ** Present : Mr.Dheeraj Jain, Advocate, for the petitioner. -.- 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? --- RANJAN GOGOI, C.J . (Oral) This two decade old litigation raises the question of the entitlement of the petitioner to a Gold Medal and Merit Certificate for being the topper in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Examination in which he had qualified in the year 1992. The ground on which the University (Panjab University) has with-held the said honour to the petitioner is that he did not clear one of his papers in the first attempt and, therefore, the stipulations applicable in this regard have not been met by the petitioner. A reading of Clause 14 of the Regulations for Bachelor of Engineering Examinations (hereinafter referred to as 'the Regulations') as prevailing in the University at the relevant time, would indicate that “first C.W.P.No .3269 of 1993 2 attempt” has been defined to mean as the first time a candidate has actually sat for the subject in the University examination. According to the petitioner, in one of the papers, he did not appear on account of his ill health and, therefore, the occasion on which he took the paper would be the first attempt in the said paper which, therefore, entitles him to the honour in question. The University, however, has taken a contrary stand in the matter to deny the honour due to him. Having read and considered Clause 14 of the Regulations and the explanation/clarification of the expression “first attempt” contained therein, we are of the view that if the petitioner did not at all sit in the paper on account of ill health, the occasion when he actually sat in the paper, must be understood to be his first attempt. The University will now proceed on that basis and decide on the petitioner's entitlement within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. (RANJAN GOGOI) CHIEF JUSTICE April 20, 2011 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE