HC directs St. Stephen’s College to grant admission to seven students

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed St. Stephen’s College to grant admission to seven students based on the allocation of seats by Delhi University.

The high court passed the verdict on two separate petitions by seven students.

“Since the university’s calculation of seats has not been set aside… the respondent college is directed to grant admission to the petitioner students under the allocation policy as followed by the college in the last academic year itself so that they are able to attend their classes after fulfilling the other formalities as required under the relevant rules,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.

The seven students sought a direction to the college to provide them seats for the courses for which they have qualified.

The petitioners submitted that despite being allotted seats by the university in the college for the BA Economics (Hons) and the BA Programme courses, their admissions were not completed within the stipulated time.

While the university has supported the petitions, it was opposed by the college.

St. Stephens College opposed DU’s stand that it was obliged to admit all candidates allotted seats through the university’s common seat allocation system. The college said it can admit students only within the sanctioned limit.

The single-judge bench had earlier granted the relief of provisional admission to the six students while noting that there was no fault of these students who had successfully cleared the CUET exam and completed other formalities, and despite being meritorious, they were being kept under suspense regarding the fate of their admission.

However, the college challenged the order before the division bench, which barred the six students from attending classes till the pendency of the main petition.

The seventh student had approached the court later.

The candidates have sought admission under the ‘single girl child quota’ fixed by DU.

As per the university’s bulletin for admission information, one seat in each programme of every college is reserved under the ‘supernumerary quota for a single girl child’.