University of Delhi on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that it will hold a special examination after July 4 for students who wish to celebrate Eid-al-Azha. May 28 was previously supposed to be the day of the law faculty examination, which is the same date as the festival.
What the court ordered
The submission was made before a bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh during the hearing of a petition filed by sixth-semester law student Saif Rashid Saeed challenging the university’s May 25 decision to conduct examinations on May 28, coinciding with Bakri Eid celebrations.
Representing the university, DU counsel Mohinder Rupal told the court that alternative arrangements would be made for affected students. The court order recorded the submission, stating, "(The DU counsel said) students belonging to the minority community and/or students who wish to celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha on May 28, 2026, may inform the Dean, Faculty of Law, by tomorrow (May 27), and the exam proposed to be held on that day will be held after July 4. Taking his statement on record, the petition is disposed of."
Further instructions for the students
The high court further clarified that students opting for the rescheduled examination would be informed of the revised date at least one week in advance.
The petition had challenged the university’s decision to proceed with examinations despite the Central government declaring May 28 a public holiday for Eid al-Azha. According to the plea, the move was “arbitrary” and “unreasonable” and deprived Muslim students and others observing the festival of their right to celebrate an important religious occasion peacefully.
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The petitioner argued that conducting examinations on the day of Eid placed students in a difficult position between fulfilling academic obligations and participating in religious observances.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner also pointed out that both the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court had declared May 28 a holiday for the festival. Following the university’s assurance regarding a separate examination after July 4, the court disposed of the petition while recording the undertaking given by the university.
