Delhi HC Allows JNU to Continue PG Admissions Process With Rider

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday permitted Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi to proceed with the admission process for its postgraduate courses, modifying an earlier single-judge bench order that had halted the exercise over a challenge to the award of deprivation points.

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia modified the previous stay order but clarified that all admissions would remain subject to the final outcome of the legal challenge.

Deprivation points are allotted to candidates hailing from specific geographical regions considered disadvantageous, aiming to provide them with an equal opportunity during the university's admission process.

The single-judge bench had earlier stayed the admissions process following a petition filed by Amit Mehra, an aspirant seeking admission to a postgraduate course at JNU. The single judge had directed that admissions should not be finalised and no further steps be taken until August 24.

While hearing JNU's appeal against the stay, the division bench pointed out that the policy of awarding deprivation points has been in place since 1974. The court observed that the entire admission exercise had been brought to a standstill by the single judge's directive.

The court also noted that the university had issued its e-prospectus for the academic year on April 3, and the formal admission process had commenced on May 25.