The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Delhi High Court order, which had directed St. Stephen’s College to follow the admission policy formulated by the Delhi University.
The Bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice C.T. Ravikumar observed that it did not find any reason to interfere with the High Court verdict and dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by St Stephens College.
The plea had challenged the Delhi High Court verdict, which had observed that the admission in the college should be as per the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) score only.
On October 10, the Apex Court had adjourned hearing in the case, as Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who was the presiding judge of the Bench, recused on the ground that he was an alumni of the college.
Justice Kaul said that this was an issue of constitutional interpretation, which could not be settled and a call will have to be taken on how it has to be read.
Justice Abhay Oka, who was also part of the Bench, added that since there was a recusal, the University itself must make a statement.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the Bench that the University of Delhi will not take any precipitative action till the top court of the country heard the matter.
While the matter was being discussed, the Bench threw light on key constitutional issues to be considered, including whether a minority institution could have different admission norms for people arising from a minority community and a non-minority community.