Delhi HC issues notice in challenge to new eligibility criteria for admission to Delhi University

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a plea challenging the changes to the eligibility criteria for admission to undergraduate courses at Delhi University for the year 2019-2020..The petition filed through Advocate Charanpal Singh Bagri seeks that the admission process for this year be conducted as per the old guidelines..Notice was issued to Delhi University and the Central Government by a Division Bench of Justices Anu Malhotra and Justice Talwant Singh..The new criteria have introduced several new changes in the admission norms. One of the changes is that a student has to mandatorily score 50% or more in mathematics or business mathematics, which would be included in his ‘best of four’ aggregate to secure admission in the B.Com (Hons) course. This aggregate must also be more than 60%..Similarly, an aggregate score of 60% or more is required to secure admission in the BA Economics (Hons) course, with a minimum score of 50% in Economics to be included in the best of four aggregate..Till last year, a student had to simply secure the minimum threshold marks to be eligible for the course, without any requirement of including the main subject in the best of four calculation..The petitioner claims that the altered eligibility criteria were arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of guarantee of fairness under Article 14, 15, 19 & 21 of the Constitution and existing UGC guidelines..He has thus sought a direction to the University to give at least one year prior notice to the public at large if there is a proposal for a minor change in the prevailing admission criteria for any undergraduate or other courses. Similarly, at least two years’ prior public notice should be given if there is a proposal for any major change, e.g. any change of subjects for admission in a particular stream..The matter will be heard next on June 14, which is the last date for the DU admission process..Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.