The Delhi High Court Friday refused a petition by St Stephen’s College seeking a directive to Delhi University (DU) to open its fee portal to facilitate admissions of 19 Christian-quota candidates to the institute. The college had filed a plea after the court directed DU to open its fee portal following a petition by seven aspirants. St Stephen’s College, in its petition, blamed DU for not approving the admissions of 19 Christian-quota candidates, despite the institute clarifying queries raised by the university. The college had sent its list of selected Christian candidates for the minority reserved seats in its undergraduate programme to DU on August 24. Yet, the university is yet to confirm the admissions, it claimed. However, DU raised a preliminary objection to the plea before the court of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. Through its counsel, senior advocate Mohinder Rupal, DU submitted that the 19 candidates have not approached the court; instead the college has through “proxy litigation” on their behalf. The college, represented by senior advocate Romy Chacko, countered the claim. “I’m (The college is) entitled to file a petition on behalf of the students.it is the prerogative of the college so far as the minority category is concerned, under Article 30. As far as students are concerned, I stand in the position of loco parentis (in place of a parent)," he submitted, adding, "For these two reasons, I’m entitled to this petition.Right to admission is preserved as far as minority category (institutions) is concerned..All 19 students belong to the minority category, my respectful submission is they are entitled.They owe an explanation to this court why these candidates have been kept out.” Pointing out that the 19 Christian candidates have already missed out on 22 academic days, Chacko sought for an urgent relief that the fee portal be opened. He further pointed out that a similar relief was granted to the seven aspirants to the college earlier by the same court. The matter will be taken up for further hearing on September 23.
