A heated dispute has erupted between Delhi University (DU) and St. Stephen’s College, a renowned Christian minority institution, over the latter’s revised admission policies and seat allocation criteria. On Monday, DU publicly accused St. Stephen’s College of exceeding the approved quota for Christian candidates in its revised seat allocation list. The university claims that several seats in various BA courses remain vacant despite qualified candidates meeting the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) score requirements.
In a public notice regarding Christian minority college allocations, DU outlined its concerns. They alleged that St. Stephen’s College submitted a list of shortlisted candidates on August 28, but the list lacked crucial details. DU further highlighted that the revised list, received on August 31, still exhibited discrepancies. Specifically, they pointed out that certain BA programs had no allocated seats while others exceeded the sanctioned quota for Christian candidates. Additionally, high-demand programs like B.Sc (H) Chemistry and B.Sc (H) Physics had vacant seats despite qualified CUET candidates.
St. Stephen’s College Principal John Varghese, however, has a different perspective. In a notice published on the college website on August 30, he claimed that DU had not opened its Common Seat Allotment System (CSAS) portal for Christian minority students, hindering their enrollment. He asserted that classes began on August 29 and threatened legal action if the portal wasn’t activated by 5 pm on August 31. He argued that this delay jeopardized the academic future of these students.
The college’s notice also emphasized that they had submitted a list of selected candidates to DU on August 24, but the university remained silent until responding with a request for further details on August 27. Varghese stated that they promptly provided all necessary information by 12:20 am on August 28, urging DU to upload the candidates’ names on the CSAS portal for fee payment and enrollment. However, they received neither acknowledgement nor response from DU despite multiple reminders.
Despite these allegations, DU’s public notice also announced the allocation of Christian candidates shortlisted by Jesus and Mary College, another minority institution. These candidates have until September 4, 4:59 pm, to accept their allocations. The colleges will then verify and approve applications until September 5, 4:59 pm. The deadline for online fee submission is September 6, 4:59 pm.
The current situation highlights a significant disagreement between DU and St. Stephen’s College. The university is committed to ensuring fair and transparent seat allocation while upholding the approved quota regulations. St. Stephen’s College, on the other hand, is determined to protect the rights of its selected candidates and ensure their timely enrollment. This ongoing dispute raises concerns about potential academic disruptions and underscores the need for a swift and amicable resolution to prevent further setbacks for the students involved.
