HC requests reply from DU and Centre to challenge the decision to admit students to 5-year law programmes based on CLAT scores

The plea contends that the notification issued by Delhi University (DU) has introduced an entirely unreasonable and arbitrary stipulation, which mandates that admission to its five-year integrated law courses will be exclusively determined by the merit attained in the CLAT-UG 2023 result.

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court extended the timeline for Delhi University and the Central government to submit their responses to a petition challenging the university’s choice to admit students to its five-year integrated law programs based on the outcome of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT UG) 2023.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula remarked, “It is clarified that if no counter affidavit is submitted, the matter will be deliberated upon in terms of providing interim relief.”

The case is scheduled for hearing on August 25. Additionally, the court allowed the Center’s legal counsel more time to either furnish a “reply or seek instructions” regarding the matter.

During the course of the proceedings, the bench verbally noted that under the National Education Policy, once a determination is made by the Government of India and the Ministry of Education, that admissions in central universities should be conducted based on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), Delhi University does not hold any distinct privilege.