Delhi High Court to Delhi University: “You Are Not Special” Regarding Law Course Admissions
The Delhi High Court, in a recent hearing, questioned Delhi University’s (DU) decision to admit students to its five-year integrated law course based solely on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT-UG) 2023 scores. The court emphasized that when other central universities are admitting students based on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG 2023, introduced by the Ministry of Education, DU cannot consider itself an exception.
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The bench, comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula, remarked
“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. Very sorry.”
The court’s observation came while hearing a petition challenging DU’s decision to grant admissions to the five-year integrated law course exclusively on the basis of CLAT-UG, 2023. The petitioner, Prince Singh, a law student at DU’s Campus Law Centre, argued that the university’s decision imposed an
“Unreasonable and arbitrary condition”.
He contended that this approach violates the right to equality under Article 14 and the right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Singh’s petition highlighted that the CUET-UG 2023 was introduced by the Ministry of Education for admissions to all undergraduate programs in central universities for the academic session 2023-24. He further pointed out that while other courses at DU are admitting students based on CUET scores, the five-year law course is considering CLAT scores, creating an unjust disparity.
The court has granted time for DU’s counsel to seek further instructions and file a counter-affidavit in response to the petition. The next hearing is scheduled for August 25. The bench also clarified
“It is made clear that in case no counter affidavit is filed before the next date of hearing, the matter will be heard on the question of grant of interim relief.”
During the hearing, DU’s counsel stated that the university had only recently introduced the five-year integrated law course. He expressed concerns that if the court grants a stay on the August 4 notification regarding admissions, it could jeopardize the entire academic year. He also assured the court that
“The university will not issue any advertisement inviting applications for the five-year law course based on CLAT till the next date of hearing.”
The case underscores the broader debate on standardized testing and admissions criteria in India’s higher education institutions.
