Give admission to disabled-students in MPhil, PhD: HC to JNU
What's the story
Delhi High Court today asked the JNU to admit students suffering from disabilities in MPhil and Ph.D. courses who have cleared the entrance exam. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar clarified that the prohibition in its earlier order shall not come in the way of JNU granting admission to the students in PWD category who were successful.
Petition
JNU stipulated 100% weightage to viva voce examination: Petitioner
The court was hearing a petition filed by the National Federation of the Blind challenging the admission policy of JNU for the 2018-19 academic session, saying it stipulated 100% weightage to the viva voce examination (interview), terming it unfair. The Federation said results of successful students under PWD category wasn't uploaded on JNU's website; the bench directed the varsity to display the entire result.
Admission policy
JNU claimed admission policy was in accordance with UGC regulations
Advocate Monika Arora, appearing for the JNU, said the university has declared the results for MPhil and Ph.D. courses. In response to the petition, the JNU has claimed that its contents were wrong and had denied them. It claimed that the admission policy 2018-19 was in pursuance of the UGC Regulations of 2016 as the university has implemented them from 2017-18.
Arguments
5% seats to be reserved for PWD, says petitioner
The plea has said that 5% of the total seats for the M.Phil and the Ph.D. courses has to be kept reserved for persons with disabilities. It has said these decisions and stipulations by the university were unconstitutional and contrary to the specific statutory provision. The plea said this policy would cause grave and irreparable loss to the interests of the disabled students.