The High Court of Delhi has directed the Delhi University to submit the data relating to the number of students who have applied online for seeking digital degree certificates & figures of such certificates which have been issued.

The HC’s direction came on being informed that despite judicial order, students have not been issued digital degrees by the varsity.

Justice Prathiba M Singh said that “This is completely violative of the order of this court. The timelines as set out in the order dated Aug 7 shall be adhered to strictly by DU".

The HC directed the university to issue digital degree certificates of the 2 students, who filed the pleas, before Sept 7.

The Judge said that “In the affidavit to be filed by the DU, the data relating to number of students who have applied online for seeking digital degree certificates & the number of digital degree certificates issued online shall be clearly mentioned".

The HC also directed Dr Sanjeev Singh, Joint Director of Delhi University Computer Centre (DUCC), to join the proceedings by video conferencing on Sept 7.

On Aug 7, the HC had passed an order on a bunch of pleas, putting in place a proper procedure for issuance of degree certificates through an online mechanism to ensure that delay in printing of degree certificates does not become an impediment to students who need it.

It had then recorded satisfaction in respect of the digital certificate that was filed by Delhi University & noted that an online platform www.digicerti.du.ac.in was also created for enabling students to apply for issuance of such certificates.

It had directed that DU shall ensure that students’ digital degree certificates are issued within a period of one week from registration.

However, on Wednesday the HC was informed by final year law student Shubham Kumar Jain that he had graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce, DU in 2017 & was seeking a digital degree for the bachelors course which has still not been issued.

He submitted that despite the online submission of the application for issuance of digital degree certificate & completion of all formalities, the university was insisting on physical submission of a hard copy of the application.

He said he has applied for the digital degree on Aug 14, but it has not been issued.

Lawyer Sarthak Maggon, representing petitioner Dhritiman Ray on whose plea the earlier order on issuance of digital degree was passed, said even he has not yet got his digital degree certificate.

He said he has received more than 30 calls from the students who are similarly situated.

The HC said the purpose of directing issuance of the certificates digitally & through an online mechanism was to dispense with the need for physical presence of students at the university during the Coronavirus pandemic & also to streamline the process for students who are not in Delhi & need the document either for employment or for further educational purposes.

The HC said as per the Aug 7 order, it was clear that after registering on the portal, the digital degree certificates have to be issued within one week & the insistence on physical filing of the same documents which are submitted online, defeats the entire purpose of the order.

Justice Singh said that “It is made clear that DU shall not insist on submission of hard copies of the application or other related documents, for the purpose of issuing digital degree certificates. Insisting on the submission of a hard copy would again set the whole process at naught & create further inefficiencies. It would also force students to visit the university, which ought to be completely avoided".

The Judge noted that earlier the senior officials of DU had informed it that the data of all students who have graduated till November 2019 is available with the university & had assured that online filing would be sufficient.

It said that “There is no permissibility for DU to insist on physical filing of documents. Accordingly, the verification of the applications, which have been filed online for digital degree certificates, shall be done on the basis of online filing. Insistence on physical presence of the students or the submission of hard copies would be contrary to the order dated August 7. Let a reply to this application be filed before the next date".

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