The Delhi High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Friday in a case concerning the admission of six students to St. Stephen’s College, a prestigious institution under Delhi University. These students were allocated seats by the university but their admission has been contested by the college.
The crux of the dispute lies in the ‘single girl child quota’, a provision established by Delhi University that reserves one seat in each program at every college for a single girl child. The six students seeking admission are claiming their right to these seats, arguing that they have met all eligibility criteria and have been allocated these seats by the university.
However, St. Stephen’s College has challenged this quota, arguing that it violates the right to equality before the law. The college contends that admitting a student under this quota unfairly disadvantages other applicants. The students and Delhi University, however, have countered this argument, stating that the college never raised this objection earlier and that the quota is clearly outlined in the university’s admission bulletin.
The case has taken several twists and turns. Initially, the Delhi High Court granted provisional admission to the six students, acknowledging their academic merit and the lack of fault on their part. However, the college appealed this decision, and the division bench subsequently barred the students from attending classes until the final resolution of the main petition.
The upcoming verdict by the Delhi High Court holds significant implications for the students, the college, and the university. It will determine whether the ‘single girl child quota’ is legally valid and if it can be applied in the case of St. Stephen’s College. The decision will also shed light on the balance between the university’s authority in seat allocation and the individual college’s right to admission policies.
