DU files affidavit before Delhi HC in relation to the digital degree certificates

Pursuant to a plea filed by various students of the Delhi University, the Delhi High Court directed DU to devise a mechanism to issue digital degree certificates due to the ongoing pandemic where it was difficult to issue physical certificates. A website was therefore devised by the university however the students faced discrepancies in its functioning.  DU issued an affidavit thereafter with regards to its stand on the various aspects.

DU mentioned the following points:-

1. DU in their affidavit mentioned that they have been facing difficulties with respect to issuing certificates for students graduating prior to 2017 via the online mechanism. It states that physical certificates were sent to respective colleges and an affidavit is awaited from their side whether the same have been distributed to students or not.
2. DU expressed an inability to derive a mechanism for the issuance of mark sheets and transcripts for regular students. In case of urgency, however, DU is willing to devise a mechanism to address the urgent requests. Court asked to place on record the mechanism derived.
3. With respect to the issuance of physical certificates, an order for 14,000 degrees has been placed for the students who graduated in 2017.
4. DU also stated in the affidavit that around 1728 certificates have been demanded under the urgency tab of the portal and all of the 1728 certificates have been issued by the university. Around 12 people have been instated for the job and 450 certificates are being issued daily and the task shall be completed in 30 days
5. With respect to the transmission of data on the Digi locker, it was stated that the process would start soon.

The Court after perusal of the affidavit asked DU to file another affidavit acknowledging the following questions:-

1. specific deadlines/dates are given for issuance of paper degrees for the following categories of students –

• those who graduated prior to 2017 • students who graduated in 2017 • students who graduated in 2018 • students who graduated in 2019 • students who would be graduating in 2020.

2. The mechanism be devised for issuance of online transcripts in respect of those students who need the same urgently and the same be set out in the affidavit;
3. Further data relating to the issuance of online degree certificates be also set out;
4. Timelines are specified for transmission of mark sheets and degree certificates to Digilocker in a phased manner.

The court also ordered that both the degrees whether monolingual or bilingual, are valid for submission for university admission and that the present order can be used for the purpose.

Case Details

DHRITIMAN RAY v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & ORS.

Counsel for Petitioner- Mr. Sarthak Maggon, Advocate. Mr. Subham Jain, Applicant in person.

Counsel for Respondent- Mr. Shlok Chandra, Advocate with Mr. Chandratanay Chaube and Ms. Mansie Jain, Advocates. Mr. Sachin Datta, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Mohinder J. S. Rupal, Mr. Hardik Rupal, Advocates with Professor D. S. Rawat, Dean (Examinations), Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Director, DUCC for the University of Delhi. Ms. Nidhi Raman, CGSC for UOI. (M:9891088658) Mr. Apoorv Kurup and Ms. Nidhi Mittal, Advocates for R-3/UGC. Ms. Sunieta Ojha, Advocate for Digilocker. Ms. Shefali Vohra, Advocate for R-4 GNCTD

Coram- JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH