The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld its decision allowing a minority category student to attend classes at St Stephen’s College, despite a seat allocation dispute between the college and Delhi University (DU). The court rejected the university’s plea to recall its earlier order, in which it had permitted the student to attend classes while the case was being heard.
Court’s Rejection of DU’s Plea
A bench consisting of Justices Yashwant Varma and Dharmesh Sharma dismissed DU’s request to recall the order. The university had claimed that the court was “misled” into believing that the student had already been attending classes, but the bench found no evidence to support this claim. The court pointed out that the university had failed to present any material backing its argument, thus upholding the previous order.
The bench stated, “We find no justification to grant the prayer of recall,” reaffirming its October 28 ruling that allowed the student to attend classes at St Stephen’s College.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute revolves around the allocation of seats at St Stephen’s College, with the student arguing that DU had not followed the approved seat matrix. On the other hand, St Stephen’s College maintained that its admissions were within the permissible “sanctioned intake” and did not exceed the limits.
Earlier, a single judge of the high court had refused to grant the student admission, prompting the student to file an appeal. The appeals were heard by the division bench, which allowed the student to attend classes until further orders.
Contempt Plea and Court’s Ruling
While addressing a plea for contempt against DU, the court was informed that the student had been granted admission. The high court emphasized that unless its direction was recalled, DU was obligated to comply with the order, ensuring the student’s rights were protected.
The court’s decision further strengthens the legal standing of students in disputes over admissions and seat allocation, as it continues to uphold the rights of individuals even amidst complex institutional disputes.
