Allahabad High Court Stays Single-Judge Proceedings in NLU Prayagraj Caste-Discrimination Probe

The Allahabad High Court questioned a single-judge order directing judicial officers to investigate caste-discrimination allegations at Dr.

What happened

The Allahabad High Court questioned a single-judge order directing judicial officers to investigate caste-discrimination allegations at Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj. A Division Bench observed that the university's Equal Opportunity Cell ordinarily has institutional authority to examine such complaints and should not automatically be displaced even where allegations are serious. It stayed the pending single-judge proceedings and directed that any inquiry report already prepared be placed before it in sealed cover. The underlying allegations against the faculty member remain unproved and must be tested through lawful process. The appeal will determine the proper institutional mechanism for examining the student's grievance.

Legal significance

The legal effect is confined to the present ruling or procedural development. Allegations and submissions are not treated as established facts.

What follows

The matter proceeds according to the operative judicial or statutory process described above.

Source: Original report