Delhi University informed the Delhi High Court that it will arrange special examinations for students who want to celebrate Eid al-Adha on May 28 and are unable to appear for exams scheduled on the same day.
The decision came after a petition was filed by a fourth-semester Muslim student from the Faculty of Law. The student challenged the university’s May 25 notice that announced exams would continue as planned despite the festival holiday. The university told the court that affected students from the minority community could appear for the examination after July 4 instead of May 28.
Delhi High Court Records DU’s Statement
The matter was heard by a bench led by Justice Jasmeet Singh in the Delhi High Court. During the hearing, lawyer Mohinder Rupal, representing Delhi University, said students who wish to celebrate Eid al-Adha can inform the dean of the Faculty of Law about their choice. The court accepted the university’s statement and disposed of the petition.
According to the court order, students belonging to the minority community or those who want to participate in Eid celebrations on May 28 can choose to take the exam later. The postponed examination will be held after July 4. This move brought temporary relief to many students who were worried about missing either their exams or important religious celebrations.
Students Said Exam Date Created a Difficult Situation
In the petition filed before the court, the student argued that conducting exams during Eid al-Adha created an “impossible situation” for Muslim students. The plea stated that students were being forced to choose between their education and their religious responsibilities. According to the petition, students had only two options — either appear for the exam and miss family celebrations and prayers, or observe the festival and risk academic problems.
The petition also claimed that the university’s decision went against the values of fairness, equality, secularism, and constitutional morality expected from a public educational institution like Delhi University.
DU Declared Holiday but Kept Exams Scheduled
On May 25, Delhi University issued a notification saying that all offices, departments, colleges, and institutions under the university would remain closed on May 28 due to Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid. The notice was reportedly based on instructions from the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
However, the same notification also mentioned that examinations would continue according to schedule. This decision led to confusion and criticism from both students and teachers. Many questioned why the university declared a holiday while still asking students and teachers to appear for exams.
Students and Teachers Protest Against DU Decision
The issue sparked strong reactions across the campus. Several students and teachers criticised the university’s decision to hold exams during a major religious festival. Aman Kumar, a member of the DU Executive Council, said the university’s action contradicted the central government’s holiday announcement. He pointed out that around 378 exam papers were scheduled for May 28.
According to him, if the university officially declared a holiday, teachers should not have been required to come for examination duties. A first-year student from Uttar Pradesh, who requested anonymity, shared his disappointment over the situation. The student said many students staying away from home had planned to celebrate Eid al-Adha together because they could not travel back to their families. However, due to the examination schedule, many had to cancel those plans.
Faculty Members Call Decision Discriminatory
Teachers also raised concerns over the university’s handling of the matter. Latika Gupta, a faculty member at the Department of Education, said the decision was disappointing for both teachers and students, especially those from minority communities.
She stated that refusing to postpone exams during an important religious festival could appear discriminatory. According to her, such decisions may send a message that festivals celebrated by minority communities are not being treated equally.
She added that educational institutions should follow the spirit of the Constitution and ensure fairness for all students. The All India Students’ Association (AISA) also protested outside the university’s examination branch office. Student leaders described the decision as unfair and insensitive toward minority students.
Delhi University Says Exams Will Continue as Scheduled
Despite the protests and criticism, Delhi University Registrar Vikas Gupta told Hindustan Times that exams would continue according to the original schedule. However, the university’s assurance about conducting special exams after July 4 has provided some relief to students who wish to observe Eid al-Adha without affecting their studies.
The controversy has once again highlighted the ongoing debate around balancing academic schedules with religious and cultural sensitivities in educational institutions. Many students and teachers now hope that universities will plan future examination schedules more carefully to avoid conflicts with important festivals and religious events.
