DU Admissions 2023: HC seeks varsity's take on St. Stephens plea against admissions based on CUET score

Advocate Romy Chacko, who is representing St. Stephen's College has said that "it was a minority educational institution and its right to select students for admission and administer educational institution under the Constitution cannot be interfered with or taken away by the Delhi University."

Delhi University and St. Stephen's College's tussle over the CUET-based admissions has again started with undergraduate admissions set to begin soon. Advocate Romy Chacko, who is representing St. Stephen's College has said that "it was a minority educational institution and its right to select students for admission and administer educational institution under the Constitution cannot be interfered with or taken away by the Delhi University."

 

The Delhi High Court has sought Delhi University's response to a plea filed by St Stephen’s College against the varsity’s notification insisting on admission under minority quota solely on the basis of common university entrance test (CUET) score without an interview. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notices to DU as well as UGC on the college’s plea and asked them to file their replies.

 

The high court remarked the DU notification was “contrary” to a judgment passed by it last year in connection with the admission process. Based on this judgment, it observed the college can issue a prospectus. The judgment last year had allowed St Stephen’s College to admit minority students by additionally conducting interviews but upheld 100 per cent weightage to CUET score for non-minority students.

“The (earlier) judgment is in existence. We will issue notice,” the court said. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the respondent, sought time from the court to file a reply to the college’s plea, saying there was no urgency in the matter at this stage.

 

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