13 February 2024 Administrative Law >> Constitution & Law Procedure   |   Hindu Succession Act >> Inheritance  

A foreign national applicant (hereinafter "Appellant") recently faced an unsuccessful appeal in their attempt to gain admission to the University of Delhi's (DU) newly introduced five-year integrated law programs (B.A.LL.B. (Hons) and BBA.LL.B. (Hons)). The crux of the dispute centered on the absence of a designated quota for foreign students in these programs during the application period. The Appellant sought admission in 2023, following the launch of the aforementioned law programs by DU. While the University maintained a policy allocating 10% of supernumerary seats in existing undergraduate programs to foreign nationals, this policy demonstrably did not encompass the newly established law programs at the time of the Appellant's application.

Appellant's Contention:

The Appellant argued for a broader interpretation of the University's resolution regarding the 10% quota, asserting its applicability to all programs offered by DU.

Court's Reasoning:

The court ultimately ruled against the Appellant, citing the specific language of the resolution. The policy clearly applied to existing undergraduate programs, and the new law programs, having been launched later, fell outside the scope of the existing quota framework.

Conclusion:

The appeal was dismissed. However, the court acknowledged a positive development. The University implemented a quota for foreign students specifically for the new law programs commencing in the 2024-2025 academic year. While the Appellant missed the opportunity for the current year (2023-2024), they retain the right to reapply when the designated quota for foreign nationals takes effect.