Dilution Of Admission Criteria Adversely Impacts Academic Standards: Delhi High Court Upholds IP University's LLB Admissions Through CLAT

The Delhi High Court has observed that uniformity in the admission process must be endeavoured and that any dilution of admission criteria could impact the academic standards adversely.

Justice Sanjeev Narula made the observation while dismissing the plea filed by an association of institutions affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, aggrieved by the adoption of Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) as the mode of admissions to the integrated B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) courses by the University.

The association had sought a direction for concluding or finalizing the admission process against vacant seats in LL.B. courses offered by institutes affiliated to GGSIPU by approving Common Entrance Test (CET) or allowing '10+2' examination as the qualifying criteria for academic year 2022 and onwards.

The Court noted that the petitioner association had previously approached the Court by way of filing petitions which were decided and the remedy qua relief sought already stood exhausted.

"…. present situation of vacancies for admission to the LL.B. courses is not on account of decline in number of applications from eligible candidates against the sanctioned strength. It is perhaps because the students are not showing interest in Petitioner- institutions. Accordingly, in the opinion of the Court, no case for seeking an additional or alternative mechanism for filling vacant seats is made out," the Court said.

The Court further observed that the affiliated institutions are bound to comply by the rules and policies of the affiliating University as the Universities themselves are best placed to formulate the same. It also added that since GGSIPU had already notified that the admissions to the academic year 2022- 23 for the LL.B. courses will be on the basis of CLAT only, any further step has to be taken by the University itself.

"In the opinion of the Court, the uniformity in the admission process must be endeavoured and any dilution of admission criteria could impact adversely the academic standards. Since the relevant statute specifies the admission policy on the basis of an entrance test, the Court finds no merit in the argument of the Petitioner to interfere in such admission criteria," the Court said.

Further noting that each University has its own character and the admission policy is the roadmap to achieve its objective, the Court opined that the University has the freedom to adopt such policies which are viable and best suited.

"In absence of any manifest arbitrariness, there is no compelling reason for the Court to interfere. Commercial loss on account of vacant seats is being linked to admission policy in the present matter, without any convincing basis. The Court cannot compel a University to modify the admission criteria and admit students accordingly, merely because certain seats will be left vacant," the Court said.

It added,

"Filling up of vacancies cannot be at the cost of compromising academic excellence, particularly when no manifest connection is made out between the adoption of CLAT as the mode of admission and vacancy of seats."

The plea was accordingly dismissed.

Case Title: SELF-FINANCING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, (REGD.) v. GURU GOBIND SINGH INDRAPRASTHA UNIVERSITY & ANR.

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