Boy challenges DU eligibility criterion

Bhadra Sinha / TNN / Jun 18, 2006, 00:17 IST

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Is it merit or age which counts more for securing a seat in Delhi University?

NEW DELHI: Is it merit or age which counts more for securing a seat in Delhi University? A 15-year-old student who secured 94% in the recent class XII board exams has challenged DU's eligibility criterion, which allows admission only to those candidates who are 17-year-old while applying to the university.
Kshitij Kumar Malik approached the Delhi High Court on Friday and was allowed provisional admission to the university.Malik wants to pursue physics honours and is also expecting a call from the prestigious St Stephen's College.
Vacation judge Justice A K Sikri observed that Malik's age should not obstruct his future in academics. His admission would, however, be subject to his fulfilling the other selection criterion, the judge said.
Justice Sikri also issued notice to Delhi University and held that Malik's admission would also be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition which has initiated a debate.

Malik's advocate Amit Mahajan said the ICSE board as well as the CBSE board did not object to his client taking the Class X and XII exams respectively. "If the two boards do not bar an "underage" student from taking exams, why should the university have such a rule." argued Mahajan.
According to Malik's petition, refusal to grant him admission is against his fundamental right. "The petitioner passed his senior secondary with a view to enrol for an undergraduate course, and an esteemed and reputed university like DU placing a bar at this stage amounts to negation of the hard work and brilliance of the petitioner," said Mahajan.

Malik, his advocate claimed, has been a meritorious student. He secured 91 per cent marks after passing the Secondary Examination in 2004 from St Josephs College, Nainital. On the basis of his marks and migration certificate, Malik moved to Delhi and got admission in DPS, R K Puram.
"He actually wanted to get admission in one of the best colleges in Delhi University," said Mahajan.
The fact that he was underage, less than 15 years old, at the time of appearing for senior secondary examination was known to the school and the CBSE. However, there was no objection made on behalf of either of them.
Said Shyama Chona, principal of DPS R K Puram: "Delhi University should stop being primitive and try to sync with the intelligence of a student seeking admission."

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