Delhi HC stays order upholding JNU admission policy based on UGC regulations

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has stayed its single judge order upholding the Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) admission policy for MPhil and PhD courses based on the UGC regulations.

The July 2016 regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) had put a cap on the number of students per professor/supervisor in MPhil and PhD courses in all varsities.

A single judge of the high court had held that the JNU admission policy was bound by the UGC regulations and the varsity had to accept them without any deviation.

It had given the finding while dismissing some students' plea challenging the JNU's admission policy based on the UGC regulations.

However, a two-judge bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra, on an appeal filed by the students, has stayed "the effect and operation of the findings on law" of the single judge till April 28.

The bench passed the interim order as the findings of the single judge "would have wide ramifications" and the appellant students had "made out a prima facie case".

"In view thereof, it is directed that till the next date of hearing, there shall be a stay of the effect and operation of the findings on law of the single judge," the bench said.

The students, in their appeal, have contended that the single judge had "erroneously granted complete supremacy to the applicability of the UGC Act".