IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Writ Petition No.1400 of 2010 (M/S) Ramesh Kumar Awasthi & others ………..Petitioners Versus Vice Chancellor Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University …….Respondent Smt. Prabha Naithani, learned counsel for the petitioners. Shri J.P. Joshi, learned counsel for the respondent. Dated: 09th August, 2010 Hon’ble V.K. Bist, J. Present petition has been filed by the petitioners for the following reliefs: I. “Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents to consider the petitioners synopsis which is submitted before the respondents. II. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents to decide the representation of the petitioners dated 05.10.2009, 10.10.2009, 30.11.2009, 30.12.2009, 15.04.2010, 13.06.2010 & 05.07.2010 within stipulated time with speaking order. III. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents to compensate the petitioners for loss of two years, which they have given in preparing their synopsis. IV. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents to permit the petitioners to amend their synopsis if the respondents find that their synopsis need some amendment. V. To pass any other and further orders, which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case. 2 VI. Award the cost of the petition to the Petitioners”. Brief facts of the case, as narrated in the writ petition, are that the petitioners are the students of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal. The present petition has been filed by the petitioners against the rejection of their synopsis by the University without stating any reason. The petitioners have submitted their forms and the title of their synopsis and paid Rs.3,055/- as registration fees to D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Dehradun and Rs.500/- to H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal. The Research Degree Committee, after being fully satisfied with the topics, approved the petitioners to start their research in the title which were submitted by the petitioners while applying for their registration to the D.Phil. (Ph.D.) and also permitted to start their research in the Centre of Research at D.A.V. (P.G.T.) College, Dehradun. The petitioners have given their two years in completing the synopsis. But suddenly synopsis submitted by the petitioners have been rejected vide letter dated 17.09.2009. The petitioners were never awarded any opportunity of hearing before rejecting their synopsis vide letter dated 17.09.2009. The petitioners filed several representations before the respondent no.1 and prayed to reconsider the synopsis of the petitioners but till date no reply has been given by the respondents in this regard. During the course of arguments, Smt. Prabha Naithani, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners submitted their forms and the title of their synopsis and after being fully satisfied with the topics the Research Degree Committee have approved the petitioners to start their research in title which were filed by the petitioners, but all of a sudden without giving opportunity of hearing, the respondents University on 17.09.2009 informed the petitioners that their synopsis were rejected. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that no reasons have been discussed in the rejection order and infact in the matter of all the eight petitioners orders were passed in mechanical manner without application of mind. She prayed that direction be issued to respondents to reconsider the representations of the petitioners as synopsis submitted by the petitioners was of a very high standard. On the other hand, Shri J.P. Joshi, learned counsel for the respondent states that though the respondents University has rightly rejected the synopsis of the petitioners but respondents have no objection in case such directions is issued to the respondents and in that event the committee shall consider the case of the petitioners afresh. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to Research Degree Committee of the University to consider the case of the petitioners afresh in accordance with law within a period of one month from the date of production of certified copy of the order. 4 Interim relief application no.6561 of 2010 also stands disposed of. (V.K. Bist, J.) Arpan 09.08.2010