High school graduate offers apology to Punjab and Haryana High Court for using falsified marks to pursue law degree
Panjab University Law Student's Petition Dismissed Due to Forged Document
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of a student's petition seeking a law degree from Panjab University, following the submission of a forged result notification.
The student, who claimed to have completed a three-year LL.B degree from the university in May 2023, admitted that he did not know the document given to him was fake. The forged Notification dated 25.11.2024 (Annexure P-1) was the basis for the petition.
Advocate Brijesh represented the petitioner in the case, while Advocate Akshay Kumar Geol appeared for Panjab University. The case was heard before Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi.
The university submitted to the court that the notification on which the student based his claim was a forged document, having three signatures. The Court did not determine whether the university's claim was accurate.
The student's counsel claimed that he was misled by another student who was Vice President of Panjab University Campus Student Council in 2019. However, the Court did not investigate this claim.
The student's petition for a law degree from Panjab University was dismissed as a result of the forged document. The Court did not address the issue of the student's degree and marks certificates not being released by the university.
It is important to note that forgery involving academic or admission documents at Panjab University can lead to severe legal consequences. According to Punjab and Haryana High Court rulings, such offenses are punishable under Section 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with imprisonment for life or up to ten years along with a fine[1]. University notices also warn students about punishments for submitting fake or forged documents, reinforcing strict policies against such acts[2].
Despite the dismissal of the petition, the Court ordered forgiveness for the student, who promises not to repeat the same mistake again. The student's law degree and marks certificates remain unavailable.
[1] Specifically, forgery of valuable documents, which could include academic certificates or similar instruments, is punishable under Section 338 of the BNS with imprisonment for life or imprisonment up to ten years along with a fine.
[2] University notices warn students about punishments for submission of fake or forged fee receipts, indicating institutional enforcement against forgery.
- The incident of a forged document used for an education-and-self-development purpose, specifically a law degree petition from Panjab University, led to a dismissal, conveying a stern message about the consequences of general-news-related activities such as forgery.
- The dismissal of a student's petition for a law degree from Panjab University due to a forged document raises concerns about crime-and-justice implications for academic misconduct, reminders of the potential severe legal consequences outlined in university policies and Punjab and Haryana High Court rulings.
