Delhi High Court Issues Notice On St Stephen's Plea Challenging DU Notification Asking It To Admit Students Under Minority Quota As Per CUET Score Only

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on plea filed by St. Stephen’s College challenging a notification issued by Delhi University for admission of undergraduate and post graduate students under minority quota solely based on Common University Entrance Test score for academic year 2023.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad sought response of Delhi University and University Grants Commission and listed the matter for hearing on May 24.

The plea has been filed against the recent decision of Delhi University resolving that admission to 50% of the seats of Christian quota shall be only on the basis of CUET score and that no interview and addition of 15% marks for interview will be permitted in the academic session of 2023.

The plea refers to a decision of the High Court dated September 12, 2022, which said  that while St Stephens College retains its authority to conduct interviews in addition to the CUET for the admission of students belonging to the minority community, it cannot devise a policy that forces the non-minority community to undergo an interview as well. 

“Therefore, the right of the Petitioner-College to conduct interviews and accord to them 15% weightage for the purposes of admitting students does not extend to non-minority students, and solely pertains to its minority students," the court had said.

In this backdrop, the plea submits that the right to select students for admission is the core of the right to establish and administer educational institution which cannot be interfered with or taken away.

The plea challenges the decision of Delhi University’s Executive Council dated December 08, 2022 and notification issued on December 30, 2022, as being ultra vires and unconstitutional.

A declaration is also sought that the decision of Delhi University insisting on 100% weightage for CUET score for admission to minority quota is against Article 30 of the Constitution of India.

Title: ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI & ANR.