Delhi University on Wednesday argued in the Delhi High Court that St Stephen’s College cannot be allowed to bring about subjective bias and discrimination by conducting interviews for students from non-minority communities. However, the college said that it was following the same procedure for admission of all students by giving 85 percent weightage to CUET and 15 percent weightage to interview.
In separate affidavits submitted by Delhi University and St Stephen’s College in a PIL filed by a law student, the college had to take admission on its ‘unreserved seats’ in undergraduate courses only on the basis of marks obtained by the students. Instructions were sought. Common University Entrance Test (CUET), as mandated by the University. Another petition was filed by the college challenging the university’s letter asking it to withdraw its prospectus for undergraduate courses for the academic year 2022-23, giving 85 per cent weightage to CUET and its unreserved College interview was given 15 percent weightage for seats.
On Wednesday, the matter came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramaniam Prasad, which listed the petitions for further hearing on July 15, after it was informed that Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, Those who represent UGC were down with COVID-19. The university, in its affidavit, has said that the law is well established that aided minority educational institutions cannot admit students under the ‘unreserved category’ of their own free will and choice.
The examples of mismanagement in the interview process of the college mentioned in the article by the former principal of the college are themselves an eye opener and the college cannot be allowed to bring subjective bias and discrimination to the students through the conduct of interviews. Belonging to non-minority communities, it said. The university supported the PIL filed by law student Konika Poddar and said that the relief sought by the petitioner is just and warranted and hence, the petition can be allowed.
However, the PIL was opposed by the college, stating that the admission process adopted by it was purely based on merit. The college follows the same procedure for admission of both minority and non-minority students. 85 percent marks are allotted for CUET and 15 percent marks for interview.
The interview is to be conducted by a committee consisting of the Principal, Head of the Department and a member of the Supreme Council of the College who is also a member of the Governing Body of the College. The procedure to be followed by the college is in line with the minority rights guaranteed by the constitution India Used for minority institutions and to promote world-class education in India through St. Stephen’s College.
The college said in the affidavit that there was no misuse or mismanagement of the interview at any time and therefore denies allegations to the contrary. It said that the right of the college to select the students for admission to the college as per its procedure was upheld by the Supreme Court and the college had to take interview as a criterion for admission to undergraduate courses for both general category and minority. was allowed to adopt. grade.
With regard to the PIL, the college said that the petitioner has no right as she is a law student who is pursuing the first year LLB course in the university and the college is not offering any course in law, so in any way It has nothing to do with admission. The procedure followed by it. The college alleged that the petitioner had filed the PIL in collusion at the behest of the university.
The court had earlier refused to stay the university’s letter asking the college to withdraw its prospectus for undergraduate courses for the academic year 2022-23, giving 85 per cent weightage to CUET and its unreserved seats. The college interview was given 15 percent weightage. , According to the PIL filed by the law student, on April 5, the university released its admission policy for the academic year 2022-23, and on its last page of the Bulletin of Information, specifically mentioned that it has unreserved seats. Admissions to minority colleges will be made on the basis of marks obtained in CUET only, 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, it said.
It has said that the college has released its prospectus for undergraduate courses for the academic year 2022-23, stating that it will adopt CUET with 85 percent weightage as the eligibility criteria for CUET and shortlisted candidates. There will be weightage for the interview of the college. Its 15 percent for unreserved seats which is clearly against the admission policy of the university.
It has said that according to some media reports, the registrar of the university again wrote a letter to the college and warned them that if the prospectus issued by the college is not withdrawn and if it will not take any admission on the basis of its admission policy. held, the University will not accept those admissions and will be treated as null and void.
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