The Delhi High Court has restrained St. Stephen's College from unilaterally modifying its seat matrix based on its status as a minority institution. The judgement came after the college sought a directive compelling Delhi University to approve and publish the list of Christian minority students on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) admissions portal.
While the Indian Constitution under Article 30 grants minority institutions the autonomy to manage their affairs, the court ruled that this independence does not extend to making decisions that contradict university policies. The court found that St. Stephen's College had treated its 13 B.A. programs as a single entity, altering the seat matrix in a way that diverged from Delhi University norms.
As per EdexLive reports, the ruling emphasised that all colleges, even those with minority status, must comply with the policies set by their affiliated universities. St. Stephen's College's attempt to independently restructure its admission seat matrix was seen as overstepping the boundaries of its autonomy, and the court's decision ensures a more uniform admission process across institutions.
A notable outcome of this ruling is that 18 out of 19 students initially denied college admission have now been deemed eligible for entry. This decision impacts the affected students and sets a significant precedent for how minority institutions manage their admissions in alignment with broader university guidelines.
The court's decision has far-reaching implications for the admission processes of minority institutions affiliated with Delhi University, reinforcing the need for adherence to university-wide policies while balancing the autonomy granted to such institutions under the Constitution.
