Ravi, an MBBS student at a reputed government medical college, was removed from the institution on the grounds of 'regular unsatisfactory academic performance' in the last three semesters. The college authorities passed

Generally, principles of natural justice are applicable to administrative decisions that adversely affect a person's rights. However, the Supreme Court of India has recognized certain exceptions, one of which relates to academic evaluation. Where a student is removed from an educational institution on the ground of unsatisfactory academic performance, the requirement of pre-decisional hearing is excluded. The Supreme Court has made it clear that if the competent academic authority assesses the work of a student over a period of time and thereafter declare his work unsatisfactory, the rule of natural justice may be excluded but this exclusion does not apply in the case of disciplinary matters. In J.N. University v. B.S. Narwal , the Supreme Court held that where a student's performance is continuously assessed and found to be unsatisfactory by a competent academic body, no hearing is required, as the action is not punitive but academic in nature. In the given situation, Ravi's removal was based on regular unsatisfactory academic performance assessed over three semesters. This decision appears to be academic in nature and not disciplinary. Therefore, the principles of natural justice with the requirement of a pre-decisional hearing do not apply in this case.