The Delhi University on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that students from its Faculty of Law who plan to observe Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) on May 28 would be permitted to appear for a separately rescheduled examination scheduled after July 4. This assurance was provided before Justice Jasmeet Singh during the hearing of a petition filed by a law student contesting the University's decision to hold examinations on May 28, despite the Central Government declaring it a public holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha.
Court Directions
Recording the submission made on behalf of the University, the Court directed that concerned students must inform the Dean of the Faculty of Law via email if they wish to avail the rescheduled examination. Additionally, the Court ordered that the fresh examination date be communicated to such students through email at least one week before the exam.
Petition Details
The petition was filed by Saif Rashid Saeed, a sixth-semester student of the Integrated Law Course at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. The student challenged an Office Memorandum dated May 25, 2026, issued by Delhi University, which declared May 28 as a holiday for Eid-ul-Zuha but simultaneously stated that examinations would continue as per the already-notified schedule. The plea specifically sought the postponement and rescheduling of the 'Public Policy and Administration' examination scheduled for May 28 for sixth-semester Integrated Law Course students.
Arguments Raised
In the petition, the student argued that the Government of India had shifted the Bakrid holiday from May 27 to May 28 through an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. The plea also referenced the Supreme Court of India shifting its holiday to May 28 and preponing matters listed for that date to May 27. Furthermore, it noted that the National Testing Agency had postponed CUET (UG) 2026 examinations scheduled on May 28 in view of Eid-ul-Zuha.
The petitioner contended that continuing examinations on the festival day was arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 21, 25, and 29 of the Constitution, as students were effectively forced to choose between appearing in examinations and participating in religious observance with their families.
