Syed HASSAN TAHIR Versus DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE, BOARD OF INTERMEDIATE AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, RAWALPINDI ETC.S
This petition for leave to appeal arises from a judgment of the Lahore High Court dismissing a constitutional petition filed by a student against the dismissal of his appeal by the Discipline Committee of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi. The petitioner was charged with using unfair means, specifically the replacement of answer books in multiple subjects during the Intermediate Spring Examination 1980, and was disqualified for four examinations. The petitioner contended that the rules applied by the Discipline Committee were inapplicable and that the case lacked evidence. The Supreme Court of Pakistan held that there was sufficient direct and inferential material to support the finding of guilt, making it unexceptionable. Regarding the legal interpretation of the rules governing the replacement and smuggling of answer books, the Court declined to render a determinative finding because the specific point had not been raised or pressed before the High Court. Consequently, the petition for leave to appeal was dismissed.
- Whether a finding of guilt regarding the use of unfair means in an examination can be sustained on inferential and direct material?
- Can a petitioner raise a new legal question regarding the interpretation of examination rules before the Supreme Court when it was not pressed before the High Court?
ORDER
1. MUHAMMAD AFZAL ZULLAH, J.-Leave to appeal has been sought from the judgment dated 18-11- 1981 of the Lahore High Court whereby a constitu--tional petition arising out of a case of use of unfair means by a student (the petitioner) was dismissed. The allegation against the petitioner was that while appearing in the Intermediate Spring Examination 1980, "he had got answer books in paper Biology B, Physics A and B and Chemistry A and B replaced" and thus he was charged with the contravention of rules 7 (i), 7 (ii), 8 (i), 8 (v), (13), 15 (2), (6), (7), (8) and (11).
2. The Discipline Committee after due proceedings found him guilty and disqualified him for four examinations. He was also awarded a separate penalty by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education ; but that is no more the subject of grievance raised from the petitioner's side.
3. An appeal was also filed before the Board against the decision of the Committee which failed. The petitioner then moved a writ petition in the High Court which was partly allowed regarding the penalty imposed by the Board. The remain--ing punishment having been upheld by the High Court, the petitioner has now sought leave to appeal.
4. The learned counsel has contended that clauses (7) and (8) of the relevant rules not being applicable, the award of punishment by the Disciplinary committee under the said rules, is without jurisdiction, and secondly, that it was a case of no evidence, in so far as the factual aspect of the matter is concerned.
5. The perusal of the High Court judgment and the other relevant papers shows that there was enough material direct and infrential against the petitioner,. Therefore, the finding of guilty is unexceptionable.
6. The other contention raised by the learned counsel, prima facie relates to the interpretation of rule
(8) whereunder according to him, a case of replace--ment of the answer books by a candidate would riot be dealt with. Instead it covered only smuggling of answer books into or out of the examination hall. No doubt clause 8 (v) of the rules indicates that the struggling of the answer book dealt with therein is relatable to the examination hall but the petitioner was also accused of receiving assistance for solving the question papers which is covered by clause 8 (i) and when read together clause 8 (i) and 8 (v) might cover his case. However in the circumstances of this case, we do not deem it necessary to give a determinative decision on the question raised, as it was rot so raised before the High Court. According to the learned counsel, the plea taken from the respondent's side in the High Court was that the act of the petitioner which was the subject matter of inquiry, had taken place out of the examination hall. This does not appear to be the respondent's case insofar as the formal charge is concerned. If a specific point as has been raised in this Court would have been pressed in the High Court, further relevant inquiry might have been made. The petitioner accordingly cannot take any advantage in this behalf. None of the arguments of the learned counsel has any force. This petition is accordingly dismissed.