DU to stay firm on its decision to nullify admissions by St Stephen’s College in violation of CUET guidelines

Delhi University (DU) on Friday stated that it is ‘firm’ on its decision to declare all admissions made by St Stephens College ‘null and void’ in violation of the Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET) guidelines; as the college refuses to do away with the interview process for admissions, the

The college, asserting its minority institution character, has mentioned that it would accord 85% weightage to the CUET score and 15% to physical interviews for all categories of candidates, a stand strongly opposed by DU, which wants interviews to be conducted only for the reserved category students.

On Thursday, St Stephen’s College principal John Varghese had written to DU, conveying that the college would retain its “tried and trusted” interview process during admission and asked the varsity to ‘avoid creating an unpleasant situation’ for students seeking admission in the college. However, DU registrar Vikas Gupta stated that the college would have to follow the admission guidelines issued by the university.

“We will again convey to them to follow the admission guidelines issued by Delhi University. They will have to conduct admission to unreserved seats solely based on CUET scores. We are firm on our decision,” Gupta said. He further questioned the need for a separate mechanism for admission when the CUET is already in place.

In his letter to Gupta, the St Stephen’s principal had pointed out that to suddenly forget the process that the college has followed and which the university has approved for the last four decades and more is ‘strange indeed’.

“The decision taken by the college to retain its stellar, tried and trusted interview process and other related steps in the admission process shall continue. All candidates who apply to the college shall face the same admission procedures, without discrimination,” Varghese said.

The university and the college are at loggerheads over the admission process, with both sides refusing to back down. On May 9, the varsity had written to the college, asking it to conduct admissions to the unreserved seats solely based on CUET scores.

However, in an admission notice posted on its website last month, the college said it would give 85% weightage to CUET scores and 15% to interviews for all categories of students. The college also said that it reserves the right to proceed with admissions in accordance with its own admission policy guaranteed to it as a minority institution.

With inputs from PTI.

Read also: HC imposes Rs 50,000 on DSSSB for delay in processing the case of a successful candidate