Full Breakdown
Allahabad High Court Orders Independent Inquiry into Caste Discrimination Allegations at NLU Prayagraj
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Court Mandates Probe and Administrative Relief
On September 16, 2026, a bench of the Allahabad High Court headed by Justice Vinod Diwakar ordered an independent inquiry into allegations that students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) backgrounds faced caste-based humiliation at Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University (NLU), Prayagraj. The order required:
- Dr Deepak Sharma, Head of the Department of Law and hostel warden, to be relieved of all administrative duties pending the inquiry.
- The university’s Vice-Chancellor to form an independent committee to re-evaluate the petitioner’s answer sheets.
- Judicial officers Archana Singh-I (Small Causes Court) and Arun Kumar Yadav (Special Chief Judicial Magistrate) to conduct the inquiry, protect witness identities, and submit a report to the court.
The court stressed that the order is not a finding on the truth of the allegations.
Background & Context
The petition *Shubhendu Anand and Another v. State of U.P. and 5 Others* was filed by Shubhendu Anand, a PhD scholar and fifth-semester BA LL.B. (Hons.) student residing in the boys’ hostel. He lodged a formal complaint with the Vice-Chancellor on August 20, 2026, alleging that the university failed to act on his grievance despite repeated reminders.
Key Figures
- Dr Deepak Sharma – Respondent No. 6, department head and hostel warden.
- Justice Vinod Diwakar – Bench judge.
- Archana Singh-I – Judge, Small Causes Court, inquiry lead.
- Arun Kumar Yadav – Special Chief Judicial Magistrate, inquiry lead.
- Shubhendu Anand – Petitioner.
Data & Statistics
- The petitioner claimed the highest marks in Constitutional Law-I. No other quantitative data were provided.
Official Statements & Responses
- The court described the allegations as “serious” and mandated protection of any student’s identity.
- It directed the Vice-Chancellor to constitute a re-evaluation committee that must exclude original evaluators, mask identities, and refrain from informing the committee of the original marks. The committee must submit its report within one week.
- The court also asked the university to report on the existence and composition of an Equal Opportunity Cell and a grievance-redressal committee for SC/ST students under UGC regulations, and on actions taken regarding the August 20 complaint.
On-the-Ground Reports
Petitioners alleged that Dr Sharma’s remarks and stricter evaluation of answer sheets were motivated by the student’s caste.
Why It Matters
The order places judicial oversight on university compliance with UGC mandates to protect SC/ST students, emphasizing confidentiality, independent academic review, and removal of the accused from decision-making roles during the investigation.
What's Next
The next hearing is set for September 24, 2026, when the inquiry report and the university’s response on its Equal Opportunity Cell and grievance-redressal structures are expected.