'Right to appear in exams part of right to live with dignity under Article 21': Allahabad HC

Allahabad High Court

• Allahabad HC orders special exam for student denied admit card due to portal error
• Court says right to appear in exams is part of human dignity under Article 21
• University urged to update records and publish results promptly for students' future

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In a significant ruling underscoring the link between education and personal liberty, the Allahabad High Court has said that a student’s right to sit for an examination is closely connected to the constitutional guarantee of living with dignity under Article 21.

The observation came while the court was dealing with a plea filed by a first-year undergraduate student who was prevented from appearing in her semester examination because of administrative lapses at the university level.

Granting her immediate relief, the court directed Rajju Bhaiya University to conduct a special examination for her within two weeks for the first-semester BSc Biology paper of the 2025–26 academic session.

Justice Vivek Saran, in an order dated January 12, noted that the student’s academic future could not be placed in jeopardy for reasons beyond her control. The court also instructed the university to declare the result “within a reasonable period of time” so that she is able to continue her studies without further disruption.

The petition was moved by Shreya Pandey, a student of Urmila Devi PG College in Handia. She stated that she had paid her fees on July 16, 2025, and regularly attended classes during the academic session. However, when the examination timetable was released, she was denied an admit card, effectively barring her from appearing in the test.

The problem, as brought to the court’s notice, arose because her admission details were not updated on the university’s Samarth Portal before the cut-off date.

Although her application existed on the portal, it remained in draft form. The college later informed the university that nearly 30 students had been affected due to the same technical issue.

While records of 25 students were eventually corrected, the petitioner’s details remained unresolved. As a result, the university expressed its inability to issue her an admit card, leading to her exclusion from the examination process.

Taking note of these facts, the court relied on a recent decision in Rahul Pandey vs Union of India (2025), which held that “appearing in the examination in question is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India”.

Emphasising that her career could not be derailed “only on technical lapses”, the high court issued mandatory interim directions. It further asked the university to promptly update her academic records to safeguard her future. The case is scheduled to be heard next on February 10, 2026.