Nithyakalyani Narayanan. V
On August 17th, the Delhi High Court held that Delhi University is not ‘special’ to make admissions in the new five-year integrated law courses solely based on CLAT score, when other Central Universities are offering admissions based on CUET results.
The division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing a PIL filed by Prince Singh, a student at Delhi University, Faculty of Law. He challenged Delhi University’s notification released on August 4th, which imposed an “unreasonable and arbitrary condition” that the admission to five-year integrated law courses shall be solely based upon merit in the CLAT- UG 2023 result, which is against the right to equality under Article 14 and right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Court observed that “Under the National Education Policy, once the decision is taken by the Government of India, Ministry of Education that admissions are to be done in Central Universities only on the basis of CUET, then you are not special.”
The Bench granted time to the Advocate representing the University to file the counter affidavit. Time was granted to Central Government to file its reply or seek appropriate instructions in the matter.
The matter is listed for hearing on August 25th. The Court explained that if no counter affidavit is filed before the next hearing date, the matter will finally be heard on interim relief.
The counsel representing DU claimed that the university will not release any advertisement for applications for the five-year law courses till the next date of the hearing.
Case Title: Prince Singh v. Faculty of Law, University of Delhi & Ors.
Bench: Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula