2 min readNew DelhiAug 28, 2012 02:53 AM IST
First published on: Aug 28, 2012 at 02:53 AM IST
A day after he led the India Under-19 cricket team to World Cup victory,the Association of Old Stephanians took up the case of cricketer Unmukt Chand,who has been disallowed by St Stephens College to sit for his annual exam because his class attendance was poor.
The Under-19 captain was forced to approach the Delhi High Court. According to the petition,he said he was unable to attend classes because of cricket matches,including the Indian Premier League.
He requested the High Court to ask his college to allow him to sit for the annual exam.
The Association of Old Stephanians on Monday said Unmukts case illustrated the archaic rules. It asked colleges affiliated to Delhi University to be flexible for aspiring sportspersons while implementing the rules.
The association appealed to St Stephens College and Delhi University to take necessary steps to ensure that promising sportspersons are encouraged to perform better and bring laurels to the country.
Ashish Joshi of the association said there were many students like Unmukt who take admission in Delhi University under the sports quota,but face problems because of their sports responsibilties.
Earlier,teachers would help sports quota students by taking separate tutorials or holding extra classes. The atmosphere in the college should be conducive for such students, he said.
Unmukt had approached the college principal. He could have taken his case as an exception and allowed him to sit for the exam. However,the case was transferred to the university officials. They simply barred him. As a result,the cricketer had to approach the court, he said.
Udit Bhatia,an alumnus of St Stephens College,said the nature of the rules create hurdles for sportspersons.
The university has strange rules when it comes to attendance. A student who has taken admission in a college under the sports quota is required to attend at least one-third of the total number of classes. Moreover,he cannot forgo his sports duties, he said.
Share
