The Delhi High Court has summoned the Registrar and Dean of Admissions at Delhi University for their alleged willful disobedience of the court’s directives.
This action follows accusations from St. Stephen’s College that the university is intentionally delaying the implementation of a court order, creating uncertainty for students.
Justice Dharmesh Sharma issued the summons on October 7, 2024, directing both officials to appear via video conference on October 15. They must explain why they should not face legal penalties for failing to comply with the court’s instructions regarding seat allocation at St. Stephen’s College.
The court expressed strong disapproval, stating, “The Court is of the opinion that the concerned officials of the respondent DU, while settling their personal grouses with the management of the petitioner-college, are virtually playing with the lives of the students.
This action or deliberate omission is neither acceptable nor sustainable in law.” Justice Sharma highlighted that the officials have not shown any cause for their inaction in facilitating admissions for the selected students.
He warned that the ongoing delays could cause irreparable harm to these students, expressing disappointment at the perceived insensitivity from a reputable academic institution.
The court noted that students remain in limbo regarding their admission status for postgraduate courses, indicating that there has been no response from the university to prior emails and requests concerning the admission process. “There has been stoic silence on the part of the respondents since the list of selected candidates was furnished to them,” the judge remarked.
The focus has now shifted from the quota issue to the university’s responsibility for ensuring timely admissions, given the academic implications for the students involved.
During the hearing, it was clarified that a list of 36 students had been submitted to Delhi University for admission to PG courses, yet the fate of five students remains uncertain as they await confirmation of their admission status.
The court also noted that St. Stephen’s College’s legal representatives argued that despite the court’s previous directions, the number of seats allocated for PG courses has decreased compared to prior years. Furthermore, the university has not yet established any policy or guidelines to manage seat allocation among various colleges.
St. Stephen’s College has filed a contempt plea, claiming that the university has failed to implement the court’s directives regarding seat allocation for the 2024-25 academic year.
A previous ruling from the Delhi High Court on April 22, 2024, mandated that the allocation of postgraduate seats at St. Stephen’s should not be disproportionate. This ongoing situation underscores the tensions between educational institutions and the need for compliance with judicial directives to protect student interests.
