Delhi High Court Tuesday issued notice to Delhi University on a plea challenging the allegedly discriminatory policy adopted for admitting students from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Justice G.S. Sistani issued notice to the university and asked it to file a reply by Oct 11.

The petition filed by a group of five students and two organizations - Innovative Institute for Development and Education of All and Balmiki Mohalla Sudhar Samiti - alleged that the admission procedure adopted by the university was “highly discriminatory”.

They alleged that the information bulletin for dalit candidates was improper and of poor quality as compared to the kit for the general category students.

“The general category candidates could register using the online facility from anywhere in India, SC/ST candidates had to come physically to Delhi with all their original certificates to even obtain the registration form,” the petition said.

The petitioners alleged that while a general category candidate could register for all or any of the courses and colleges, an SC/ST candidate had a limit of 30 choices.

Making an informed choice at the time of registration was impossible for Dalit candidates who were not even provided with the required information, it added.