Admit all students, not just those with court relief, Stephen’s staff urges governing body

NEW DELHI: The staff association of St Stephen’s College has written to its governing body, requesting it to ensure that all the students who have been allotted seats in the college this year have the option of taking admission, whether there is a court order or not.

Regarding the legal battle involving the students whose allotment by Delhi University (DU) was turned down by the college, the association stated, “It is our understanding that the college should admit all these students as a special case for this year while continuing the legal procedures/administrative conversations with the university.”

The request was part of the resolutions passed in the staff association meeting on Wednesday about admission-related issues in the college. The association said the legal battle involving the students in the supernumerary categories of orphan and single girl child and the extra 5% allotment had caused a lot of difficulties and distress to the students and their parents.

Dr Ashley N P, president of the staff association, emphasised that the foremost priority must be to prevent any negative impact on the students.

“The students are not at fault in this situation. They have been caught in the confusion between the university and the college. We should focus on their future and reach a resolution that considers their best interests. The court order gives relief to only those who appealed. The college should treat all those in the same category in the same manner,” he said.

The association, in its communication, further stated how students could end up losing a year if a resolution was not found.

“The issue, primarily born out of the college principal not following institutional procedures of consulting heads and members of the faculty, has now become a legal conundrum that could go on for a long time, with students being the victims of it all. It may also be noted that permission for admission has, so far, been granted by the honourable courts only to those students who filed cases in the court. Those unfortunate students who don’t have the financial means, facilities or the knowhow about filing cases have fallen through the cracks. They will be left behind and could eventually lose a year,” it said.

Meanwhile, parents of the affected students said that they are yet to receive any resolution from the college, DU or UGC, leaving them uncertain about their future course of action.
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