2 weeks ago
Delhi High Court Allows JNU Admissions Despite Deprivation-Points Challenge
JNU gives some students extra points because they come from certain geographically disadvantaged regions.
A student named Amit Mehra challenged this system in court.
A single judge temporarily stopped JNU from completing admissions using those points.
The judge questioned whether extra points should be added after students had taken the CUET exam.
JNU said the policy helps students from different parts of India get represented at the university.
JNU also said the policy has existed since 1974.
A division bench later allowed admissions to continue because stopping them had disrupted the process.
However, every admission made under the policy can still be changed by the final court decision.
The original case is expected to be heard as early as possible.
A Delhi High Court division bench allowed JNU to continue postgraduate admissions under its 2026-27 e-prospectus.
The order permits admissions based on deprivation points, but makes them subject to the final ruling in Amit Mehra’s petition.
A single judge had halted admissions on August 14 after questioning whether deprivation points could alter CUET-based rankings.
Eligible candidates may receive up to 12 deprivation points, equivalent under the policy to as many as 36 additional marks.
The division bench noted that JNU has used deprivation points since 1974 and asked the single judge to decide the challenge early.
- Who
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, petitioner Amit Mehra, and Delhi High Court benches including Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
- What
- The Delhi High Court modified an earlier stay and allowed JNU to continue postgraduate admissions using the challenged deprivation-points provisions, subject to the petition’s final outcome.
- Where
- The case was heard in the Delhi High Court and concerns admissions at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
- When
- The single-judge stay was issued on August 14; the division bench later allowed admissions to resume. The e-prospectus was issued on April 3, admissions began on May 25, and first-round classes began on July 30.
- Why
- The division bench said the stay had halted the admission process at an advanced stage, while the legality of deprivation points remains undecided.
Challenge to Deprivation Points
JNU’s Defense and Admission Continuation
Effect on CUET merit
Challenge to Deprivation Points
Amit Mehra argued that deprivation points can undermine or make nugatory the CUET score and alter candidates’ relative rankings.
JNU’s Defense and Admission Continuation
JNU defended the system as a way to support representation of students from different parts of India.
Authority to add points
Challenge to Deprivation Points
The challenge questions whether JNU can effectively add marks after a competitive entrance examination has already been conducted.
JNU’s Defense and Admission Continuation
JNU relied on the First Schedule of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966, and said its Academic Council had approved the policy.
Whether admissions should continue
Challenge to Deprivation Points
Mehra’s counsel argued that continuing admissions could create an irreversible situation if the deprivation-points mechanism is ultimately rejected.
JNU’s Defense and Admission Continuation
JNU argued that the stay had brought the admission process to a standstill; the division bench allowed it to proceed while making admissions subject to the final judgment.
Key facts
- University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Academic session
- 2026-27
- Admissions covered
- Postgraduate admissions, including admissions relying on deprivation points
- Deprivation points
- Eligible candidates may receive up to 12 points, with one point described as equivalent to three marks
- Policy history
- JNU told the court that the practice has been followed since 1974
- Earlier order
- A single judge halted finalisation and further steps based on deprivation points on August 14
- Current condition
- Admissions made during the ongoing process remain subject to the final outcome of the writ petition
- Offer letters cited
- JNU said it had issued offer letters to 1,500 postgraduate and 451 undergraduate candidates
Quotes
Delhi High Court division bench
Bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia
“The University shall carry on with the admission process as per the provisions in the e‑prospectus, including the provisions which are under challenge before the single judge. However, any admission hence made will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition”
NDTV
“Unless some prima facie finding is recorded that for this reason the practice of grant of deprivation points is illegal, how can admission process be stalled?”
NDTV
Amit Mehra
Petitioner seeking JNU admission
“deprivations points make the score obtained by a candidate in the CUET nugatory”
NDTV
Sources
Delhi High Court Puts JNU Admissions 2026-27 on Hold, Questions Addition to CUET Scores
JNU Admission 2026 Row: Delhi HC Allows PG Process to Resume With Conditions; All Details
JNU can go ahead with admissions based on deprivation points: Delhi High Court
Delhi High Court Allows JNU To Continue Admissions Based On Deprivation Point
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