Delhi University 'You Are Not Special,' Says Delhi High Court Over CLAT, CUET Controversy

Delhi University (DU) has given its word to the Delhi High Court that it will refrain from soliciting applications for its recently introduced five-year integrated law programs while the legal challenge to its choice of using Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2023 results for admission to these courses is underway.

Advocate Mohinder S Rupal, representing DU, provided this assurance following the Bench's critique of the university's decision to prioritize CLAT scores over Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for admission to the five-year law programs.

During a hearing presided over by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula, a Division Bench made the following observation: "You are not special... There is a national policy. If 18 other central universities are relying on the CUET scores for admissions, why is DU not doing the same?"

Rupal, representing DU, told the Court that a committee suggested using CLAT scores and this was presented to DU's Academic and Executive Councils. Rupal asked for a week's extension to provide the University's response. The Court set a review date for August 25, warning that if the response isn't given by then, provisional relief may be considered.

The Court allowed the Central government counsel to respond in a legal proceeding involving a PIL against DU's use of CLAT 2023 scores for law program admissions. A student named Prince Singh from DU's Faculty of Law argues that CUET scores should be used, citing UGC's directive for central universities. The plea points out the difference between CUET and CLAT, stressing that CUET is in multiple languages while CLAT is only in English. This leads to an admission advantage for a specific subgroup at DU's Faculty of Law.