High Court Issues Notice To Delhi University On Plea Alleging Arbitrariness In Seat Allocation For LL.B. Admission

The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the Delhi University on a plea alleging arbitrariness in the "seat pattern allocation" adopted for admission to its law course this year.

The petitioner claimed that the candidates belonging to the reserved categories, who secured more marks than the candidates figuring in the merit list of the general category, have not been moved to the general category, which is against the "basic idea of reservation" and hinders more reserved category students from taking admission.

The petitioner, who had appeared in the LL.B. entrance examination, contended that he was "otherwise eligible" for securing admission under the reserved OBC category but was unable to do so on account of such seat allocation.

Justice Vikas Mahajan recently issued notice to DU on the plea and granted it time to file its response.

Advocate Ranjay N. appeared on behalf of the petitioner while Advocate J.S. Rupal appeared for the respondent.

The Court said that any admissions made after December 21 in the LL.B. course under the reserved categories shall be subject to the outcome of the petition.

"The impugned first admission list has excluded reserved category students (OBC, SC & ST), albeit obtaining marks above the general cut-off, from taking admissions under the open/unreserved category admission list. This seems to overturn the logic of reservation, as the seat matrix adopted by the respondent university fundamentally prevents reserved category students from competing in the open quota and consequently hinders additional reserved category students from making it to the list", the plea said.

"As a general principle, the open quota/unreserved admission category is open to all categories of students whereas, the first admission list of LLB 2022 published by the respondent university violates the said principle", it added.

The plea said the "seat matrix" adopted by Delhi University is arbitrary, unlawful, and manipulative as well as an "egregious infringement of constitutional rights guaranteed to the reserved category".

Hence, the matter would be heard next on January 23, 2023.

Cause Title- Riyas Mon K v. University of Delhi

Click here to read/download the Order

With PTI inputs