Delhi HC slams DU's Registrar, Admission Dean for willful disobedience of court order

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday has summoned the Registrar and Dean of Admissions at Delhi University for their alleged willful disobedience in implementing the court's directions.
St. Stephen's College has accused Delhi University of defying a court order, prompting a contempt plea. The college claims the university is deliberately delaying implementation of the court's directives, causing uncertainty for students.
The bench of Justice Dharmesh Sharma in an order passed on October 7, 2024 directed the Registrar and Dean of Admissions at Delhi University to appear before the court via video conference on October 15. They are to explain why they should not face legal penalties for their alleged failure to comply with the court's directives regarding seat allocation at St. Stephen's College.
In a strong observation, Delhi High Court judge said, "The Court is of the opinion that the concerned officials of the respondent DU while settling their personal grouses with the management of the petitioner-college, are in virtually playing with the life of the students, which action or deliberate omission is neither acceptable nor sustainable in law. The respondents are miserably failing to show cause as to what steps they have taken so far to facilitate the admission of the selected students by the petitioner-college in getting admission in PG courses. At the cost of repetition, inordinate delay on the part of the respondents shall cause irreparable harm to the selected students. It is disappointing to see academics of repute displaying such insensitivity".
The Court observed that the students are yet to see the light of the day as to where they stand in pursuing their preferred PG courses or otherwise. It is manifest that there has been no response from DU to the aforesaid emails, requests, or persuasions.
"There has been stoic silence on the part of the respondents since the time list of the selected candidates was furnished to them. The focus thus shifts from the quota issue to the responsibility of the DU in ensuring timely admissions, considering the academic consequences for the students involved," said the court.
During the course of hearing, it was clarified that a list of 36 students was supplied to the DU for admission in PG Courses and as of now the fate of five students hangs in balance who are yet to see as to whether or not they stand admitted in any PG Courses, added the court.
It further stated that, "it was also rightly canvassed by the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner-college that, despite directions of this Court, the allocation of seats in PG courses has been reduced as compared to the previous years. Evidently, DU is yet to formulate any policy or guidelines to govern allocation/allotment of seats in PG courses amongst various colleges".
St. Stephen's College has recently filed a contempt plea, stating that the university has failed to implement the court's directives regarding seat allocation for the 2024-25 academic year passed by a Delhi High Court on April 22, 2024, ruling directing that the allocation of postgraduate seats at St. Stephen's College should not be disproportionate.