The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi University to immediately issue the law degree and marksheets of former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri, ruling that educational institutions cannot withhold academic credentials to enforce the recovery of non-academic dues without explicit legal authority.
Delivering the verdict in an order dated September 30 and made public on October 12, Justice Jasmeet Singh held that universities possess no statutory or regulatory power to deny students their degrees over debts disconnected from their academic curricula. The withholding of the documents had prevented Khatri from enrolling with the Bar Council of Delhi to begin his legal practice.
**Dispute Over Unpaid Guest House Charges**
The controversy stems from Delhi University’s refusal to grant Khatri his degree certificates after he completed his three-year LL.B. programme at the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law. Khatri, who enrolled in January 2023 and passed his final examinations in August 2025, had secured a clearance certificate confirming that all his academic dues were fully settled.
However, in November 2025, the university administration flagged outstanding dues exceeding Rs 8 lakh. The administration claimed the sum had accumulated between December 2024 and August 2025 from room bookings and catering services at the university’s International Guest House during Khatri’s tenure as DUSU president in the 2024-25 term.
Expenses Incurred in Official Capacity
Appearing for Khatri, a legal team led by senior advocate N Hariharan alongside advocates Siddharth Yadav and Ratnesh Sharma submitted that the guest house facilities were requisitioned strictly in Khatri’s official capacity as student union president.
The counsel stated that all reservations were undertaken with formal permissions and approvals from both the DUSU advisor and the university proctor’s committee. They further argued that expenditures related to official guests and student welfare initiatives are chargeable directly to student union funds rather than to individual office-bearers.
Absence of Legal Authority to Withhold Credentials
Allowing Khatri’s petition, Justice Singh observed that Delhi University failed to point to any statutory provision or regulation empowering the institution to withhold degree certificates and marksheets over unpaid room bookings or catering charges.
While directing the university to release Khatri’s degree and academic records, the court clarified that the administration remains at liberty to initiate separate civil proceedings to recover any legitimate financial dues it claims to be owed.
