Stephen's plea on admission of minorities: HC told to hear case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi high court to proceed with hearing a petition filed by the Delhi University’s St Stephen’s college challenging a December notification issued by the university, directing the institution to admit students under the minority quota seats strictly as per the scores of the common university entrance test (CUET) without holding interviews.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELI: The college challenged the December 13 notification issued by DU before the Delhi high court, but it was told on May 24 to first approach the Supreme Court since the issue relating to admission based on CUET is pending before the top court.

The high court noted that the university passed a similar order last year saying that CUET scores should be the sole criterion for admissions to the general category seats across the undergraduate courses provided by the Christian minority college.

The notification was upheld by the high court on September 12, against which the college’s appeal is being heard by the Supreme Court.

Ending the confusion, the top court bench of justices BR Gavai and JB Pardiwala told the HC to proceed with hearing the college’s petition noting that the challenge is with regard to admissions under the minority quota. At the same time, the bench added, “It is needless to state that since the matter pertains to admission for the present academic year, the HC would consider the same with requisite urgency.”