The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response from St Stephen’s College and the University of Delhi on a plea seeking a direction to the college to take admission on its “UNRESERVED SEATS” in undergraduate courses, which are held by students in the Common University Entrance Test. It was on the basis of marks obtained. CUET, as mandated by the University.
It said that on April 5, the university released its admission policy for the academic year 2024-25, and on its last page of the Bulletin of Information specifically mentioned that admission to unreserved seats in its minority colleges would be done only on the basis of marks obtained in CUET. Whereas minority colleges on reserved seats may give 15 percent weightage to interview and 85 percent weightage to CUET score at the time of admission.
On 20 April, the college refused to comply with the directions of the University of Delhi and issued a press release and admission notice stating that the college would conduct interviews for both reserved and unreserved seats and 15 percent weightage for interview and CUET. 85% weightage will be given to marks at the time of admission to its undergraduate courses, – stated the petition filed through advocate Akash Vajpaeoi.
The petition filed by Kanika Poddar states that her petition is for a number of students who aspire to study in St Stephen’s College, Delhi University and will attend CUET in the near future.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghvi and Justice Sachin Dutta issued notice to St Stephen’s College, Delhi University and the University Grants Commission (UGC) on a petition filed by a law student.
The petition said that the Academic Council, in its meeting on March 22, 2022, accepted the recommendations of the Standing Committee of CUET for all its colleges as the basis for admission to undergraduate courses from the academic year 2024-25. Minority colleges like St. Stephen’s College and minority colleges will have separate merit list for unreserved seats where admission will be given on the basis of CUET scores only.
It said that the college has released its prospectus for undergraduate courses for the academic year 2022 to 2023 stating that it will adopt CUET with 85 per cent weightage as eligibility criteria for CUET and shortlist with 15 per cent weightage. There will be college interview for the shortlisted candidates. Percentage for its unreserved seats which is clearly contrary to the admission policy of the University
It said that as per some media reports, the registrar of the university again wrote a letter to the college warning them that if the prospectus issued by the college is not withdrawn and any admission is conducted on the basis of its admission policy If so, the university will not accept it. Those admissions and they will be treated as null and void.
