Bhopal: National Law Institute University (NLIU) General Council (GC) meeting on Saturday decided to pardon all students and showcause staff members involved in the racket involved in declaring fail students as pass. The three-hour-long meeting decided to give benefit of doubt to students. Show cause notices were issued to 15 staff members and 22 students indicted in probe report.
The 22 students had failed the exam but were given pass degrees, confirmed sources. Re-examination of the these students was recommended. Shivendra Upadhyaya, chairman of the State Bar Council and GC member said that Justice Gohil inquiry report did not hold students guilty hence they were given benefit of doubt. Some of the students were given benefit of doubt as their answer copies were destroyed because of time lapse. More than three years old record could be destroyed as per the rules, he added.
Fifteen staff members were issued show cause while students were considered victims, added Upadhyaya. Most of these students are currently well placed. Most of the GC members were of the opinion that as most of the students were in jobs therefore they should be pardoned as any strict action against them may spoil their life and career.
Civil society member and retired IPS Arun Gurtoo expressed shock and surprise on the GC decision. ‘It is strange that recommendations of inquiry committee were not taken into consideration. How can a decision of GC pass the fail students,” he quipped. The objective of constituting the inquiry committee was to take action on the report and restore lost glory of the prestigious institute. However, this does not seem to be the case.
“I think the GC soft-peddled the issue because teachers and other staff members were involved in this criminal conspiracy. They should have punished and set example so that such incidents are not repeated. This incident has put entire legal fraternity to shame” he added.
An official privy to the inquiry report requesting anonymity claimed that the report had commented, ‘This is a clear case of committing forgery, fraud and creating false documents and to make changes in the genuine record of the university under a criminal conspiracy.’ The report further stated, ‘This is a fit case, in the interest of the reputation of the university, to initiate criminal action or FIR can be lodged against them.’
