The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed a student from a minority community to attend classes at St Stephen’s College amid an ongoing seat allocation conflict between the college and Delhi University (DU). This provisional order was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, as they considered appeals from both the college and the student challenging a previous ruling that had denied the student admission.
Background of the Case
The issue originates from a single-judge decision dated October 14, which held that 18 out of 19 minority category students met the admission criteria on merit. The college had previously requested that DU approve and upload the admission list for all minority applicants, arguing that the admission process fell within the college’s “sanctioned intake” limits and adhered to established guidelines.
High Court’s Interim Decision
The high court noted that the single judge had confirmed the eligibility of 18 students for admission, with one remaining vacant seat available in the program chosen by the appellant student. Consequently, the court provisionally allowed the student to attend classes, with the condition that no additional allocations would be made under the minority quota until further notice. “Let it [any vacant seats] go waste,” added the bench, reinforcing the restriction on further seat allocation.
Delhi University’s Objection
Delhi University strongly opposed the appeal, accusing St Stephen’s College of manipulating the seat matrix by adjusting its minority seat allocation according to its preferences. DU maintained that the college’s actions were outside the sanctioned seat structure, while the college defended its allocation, claiming it had stayed within permissible limits.
Student’s Appeal and College’s Stance
The student in question, referred to as “student number 19,” sought admission to the Bachelor of Arts program after another student turned down their seat. The college argued that its admissions were conducted as per approved intake limits, without breaching any quotas, and urged the court to reconsider the decision on these grounds.
Outcome and Next Steps
The court’s interim decision underscores a balanced approach, permitting the student’s attendance while halting further seat reallocation under the minority quota. The case remains under judicial review, with further orders anticipated to resolve the dispute.
This case reflects ongoing tensions between minority seat allocations in autonomous colleges and central university regulations, highlighting the challenges in reconciling institutional autonomy with standardized university policies.
